As tourists begin to tentatively spread their wings once more, the hope is that we will begin to travel with a newly acquired consciousness, which could have far-reaching consequences on both people and the planet.
COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on volunteer tourism businesses. It is also forcing organisations to examine past practice, their role and their impact. Accepting the need for change could be the first step towards a more sustainable future.
In this article, the authors put forward four ways in which governments can reimagine their role in the tourism sector in the context of COVID-19. These include the development of a central nerve centre, new financial mechanisms, transparent communication on protocols and the provision of a data and analytics infrastructure.
New research from Lund University highlights tourism’s lack of resilience to downturns and suggests there are few tangible guidelines to make tourism more resilient as well as climate friendlier. The authors conclude that many of the major structural changes will have to come from policy makers.
The small Caribbean island of Dominca is attempting to integrate resilience into all areas of the country's growth. This goes beyond disaster management, and includes changing mindsets, community engagement and economic diversification.
