Post COVID Challenges to the Tourism and Hospitality Industry: A Study on Bangladesh

Abstract

The contagious virus (COVID-19) has severely affected the tourism and hospitality industry all over the world, including Bangladesh. It has affected both inbound and outbound tourism of the country. All kinds of tourism firms like hotels, motels, resorts, and transportations have been closed down. Many people have become jobless. The objective of the study includes the challenges that the tourism and hospitality industry will face after the COVID pandemic. Two-phased data collection methods are utilized to achieve their search aim. Primarily, ten variables are identified to measure post-COVID challenges to tourism based on available literature and informal qualitative interviews. Later, a questionnaire is developed for conducting a formal survey to identify post-COVID challenges. Based on empirical findings, this study has identified some post-COVID tourism challenges such as managing health security, dealing with congestions, charging higher prices for securing health safety, managing skilled employees, and arranging developed tourism management technologies. The study further finds that challenges may remain for the industry even after the pandemic. In order to mitigate the post-COVID challenges, it offers a few suggestions such as understanding the new needs of tourists after the pandemic, developing an information system for satisfying the requirements of new-normal situations, and building awareness to tourism stakeholders.