Abstract:
The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed the tourism sector and economic
landscape. Impact studies on tourist destinations are insufficient; decline in
tourist arrivals as the core indicator of the impact level is inadequate for
comprehending destination scenarios and developing revitalization strategies.
Instead, the tourism area life cycle (TALC) model helps understand how the
pandemic affects tourism destinations. This study explores the pandemic’s
impacts on tourism destinations by extending the TALC using qualitative
interviews with tour operators. The findings reveal that the pandemic has
severely impacted tourism businesses regarding tourist arrivals, business
closures, and job and income loss. These impacts can be interpreted in four
stages: stagnation, exploration, involvement, and development. The phases
illuminate the contextual issues requiring different approaches to ensure that the
destination remains attractive, competitive, and sustainable. These findings have
theoretical and practical implications; in particular, the TALC enables the
development of post-pandemic marketing and promotion strategies.
