Hosneara Khatun Himu

Travel and Tourism Sector would have hardest impact globally and on Bangladesh, pay among all economic sectors, due to COVID-19 for the view of unprecedented travel restrictions and almost complete lockdown all over the world.

As a result of the pandemic, many countries and regions have imposed quarantines, entry bans, or other restrictions for citizens of or recent travelers to the most affected areas. Other countries and regions have imposed global restrictions that apply to all foreign countries and territories, or prevent their own citizens from travelling overseas. Needless to say that it is a critical period for human beings.

UNWTO expects that international tourist arrivals will be down by 20 to 30% in 2020. This expected fall can translate into a decline of international tourist receipts by 300-450 billion US Dollars.

The immediate likely impact, however, would be that millions of jobs both in Bangladesh and globally are at risk of being lost, as most of the tourism business is in MSME Sector.

 In many of the world`s cities, planned travel went down by 80%–90%. Conflicting and unilateral travel restrictions occurred regionally and many tourist attractions around the world, such as museums, amusement parks, and sports venues closed. Together with a decreased willingness to travel, the restrictions have had a negative economic impact on the travel sector in those regions.

A possible long-term impact has been a decline of business travel and international conferencing and the rise of their virtual, online equivalents. Concerns have been raised over the effectiveness of travel restrictions to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Impact of covid 19 in tourism sector according to different countries:

China: Tourism in China has been hit hard by travel restrictions and fears of contagion, including a ban on both domestic and international tour groups.

The domestic tourism revenue in the country was estimated to drop by 69 percent in the first quarter of 2020, followed by a 20.6 percent decline in the whole year of 2020.

Italy: The country’s tourism association stated that Italy already lost 30 million tourists between only March and May.

Cambodia: Cambodia has banned entry of foreign visitors since mid-March and has imposed entry restrictions for all foreigners since March 30 to curb COVID-19. Foreign arrivals in March 2020 fell by 65% year-on-year.

Hong Kong: Foreign arrivals in February 2020 fell by 96.4% year-on-year and by 98.6% Year-on-year in March 2020.

India: Foreign arrivals in March 2020 fell by 66.4% year-on-year.

Indonesia: Foreign arrivals in March 2020 fell by 64.11% year-on-year.

Japan: Foreign arrivals in March 2020 fell by 94% year-on-year. By mid-April, daily arrivals of foreigners had fallen by 99.9% year-on-year.

Malaysia: On 16 March 2020, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture announces that several tourist attractions around Malaysia will remain closed. It is still remaining closed.

Mexico: Tourism provides 4 million jobs in Mexico, and 93% of the companies have ten or fewer employees. The pandemic caused the closure of 4,000 hotels (52,400 rooms) and 2,000 restaurants, while the airline industry lost MXN $30 billion through March.

Singapore: Foreign arrivals in February 2020 fell by 51.2% year-on-year.

Spain: Foreign arrivals in March 2020 fell by 64% year-on-year.

Sri Lanka: Foreign arrivals in March 2020 fell by 70.8% year-on-year.

Thailand: Foreign arrivals in March 2020 fell by 76.4% year-on-year, and tourist spending fell 77.6% year-on-year.

Therefore, Industry must put their immediate focus on domestic tourism, more than inbound or outbound. The tourism associations and industry chambers must come on a common platform to seek support from Union and State Governments in the form of bail-out package, reliefs in taxes and by way of special schemes for easing the liquidity flow to the industry players.

So, Future challenges of tourism post (Covid-19).

Taxation: Tourism is one of the most taxed sectors. A simple glance at the taxes paid on airlines tickets and hotel rooms gives an idea of how taxation can greatly affect Tourism.

 Travel Marketing: Travel marketing can sometimes be deemed by travelers or tourist as being inadequate, false, or exaggerated. After Corona virus pandemic these things will increase.

Infrastructure: Tourism infrastructure in many locations is outdated and underdeveloped. Governments, Tourism boards, and destination marketing organizations must work towards improving the current infrastructure with foresight. Among Covid -19 floods is another suffering things for people.

Security: Industry players must work towards establishing better security infrastructure for tourists and travelers.

This can be achieved by working with local law enforcement, city Councils, and local governments.

Governments must work towards sourcing for more Manpower and economic resources to boost security and vigilance without stifling the travel experience within the country. Now, the big question is, can these challenges can become growth opportunities for travel companies, tourism Boards, and destination marketing organizations.

 As for the others with external factors involved, it would be unthinkable for individual travel businesses to make significant changes.

Jobless: Many employees are immediately jobless. And it will be the another great of future challenge in tourism sector Widespread unemployment, businesses folding under the economic pressure, governments protective of their citizens keeping borders closed and stringent controls in place. However, there’s already evidence to suggest that the future will be much bright-coloured.

So, how to overcome the future challenges of Post Covid-19 at the tourism and travell sector.

Looking at the current scenario of COVID-19 crisis not only Bangladesh but also all over the world, it may take some time for the industry to recover. It is only when the lock-down ends, and after assessing the extent of damage to the economic and public health all over the world, that it will be appropriate to estimate the horizon of recovery.

How soon the Industry recovers will also depend on the extent of ‘safe zones’ and ‘safe destinations’, from a health safety point of view, that emerge after the crisis.

The financial health of key Industry players like Airlines, hospitality and travel-trade, and how the Industry is able to transform and innovate itself to the new global order.

 One another issue is that post-COVID-19, as the business operations in travel and tourism sector will have to start at a slow pace initially, involving less volume of business, the Industry may face the issue of viability in operations, till it attains an optimal volume of business.

The Industry can seek support from the Government in many ways. However, at this point of time when the first and foremost requirement of the Country is to overcome the present health emergency, the Industry should extend its unconditional and whole-hearted support, proactively, to strengthen the Government machinery.

Government support can be sought in the following respects to ensure ease of liquidity through soft loans or working capital at reduced interest rates, through financial institutions. Creation of a National Corpus Fund can also be considered to serve the immediate credit needs of the industry.Reduced tax burden including lowering of GST rate and deferred GST.

Relief in taxes and charges by State Governments in the form of a waiver of entertainment tax, luxury tax and reducing the power and water rates.

Ministry of Tourism could consider constituting a ‘National Tourism Recovery Committee’ to address the issues and demands of the industry and to bring out a ‘Recovery Package’ comprising short term, medium-term and long term, fiscal and monetary measures. After the COVID-19 threat mitigates, the global order of the travel & tourism sector, will see a paradigm shift and a reset.

 There shall be a new ‘protocol’ both for International and domestic travelling, primarily based on health safety of traveller and of the host destination.

Countries will revisit and review their Visa policies. The New Visa regime of countries is likely to be guided also by the health safety of the host country.

Governments all over the world are likely to put health protocols and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in place, for industry and for travellers to follow.

Again and again saying “Health Safety” shall, henceforth, become an important pillar of the Travel and Tourism Competitive Index.

 Tourists, particularly leisure and holiday travellers, will, in the initial 1-2 years, prefer a destination which has remained relatively safe during the COVID-19 crisis and is perceived as safe destination.

Travel & Tourism Industry will, therefore, have to adapt itself to the new national and global order of travelling, by ensuring the health protocol and health safety of the travelers. And therefore, those in the Industry who can innovate and adapt better to this new order will be the fittest and sharpest to recover faster than the others.

How to Tourism industry promotion succeeding Pandemic in Bangladesh? If Bangladesh overcomes the COVID-19 crisis relatively more successfully, we shall emerge as a ‘Safer and Healthier’ tourist destination in the world.

 In times to come, the destination which can brand itself as a ‘health-safe’ destination will be a preferred destination for travel. Within Bangladesh also there may emerge ‘safer regions and destinations’. The domestic travelers, as well as inbound travelers, therefore will prefer to visit such safe destinations only in the initial period.

The branding and promotion strategy of Government and Industry will have to be built around three factors.

Firstly, how travel could be made “seamless and health-risk free’’ and

Secondly, how ‘health-safe’ is the destination?

Thirdly, it is important to spread the positive news through news channels and social media platforms to aware the potential tourists. Maintaining international advertising campaigns are also a crucial point in marketing

and promoting world tourism and hospitality industry. Additionally, since pre-paid rates are unlikely to be booked with the present levels of market uncertainty it is highly recommended

to remove the non-cancellable fees.

Establishing the quarantine camps for passengers from identified high risked destinations.

Placing thermo scanners in international airport. Identify the network of patients and lead the recognized potential individuals for quarantine process.

Curfew and lock down around the country identifying as high danger zones, low danger zones, etc.

Distribution of essentials for residents around the country, empowering local health care industry.

However, there’s already evidence to suggest that the future will be much brighter if do the task.

Author: Hosneara Khatun Himu is a Student of Dept of Tourism and Hospitality Management at Islamic University Kushtia.