The effects of the COVID'19 pandemic on the tourism industry: A study on tourist preferences in post-pandemic holiday tourism

Abstract

The study's main purpose is to reveal the effects of the COVID'19 pandemic on the tourism industry and consumer preferences that can emerge in the post-pandemic holiday tourism demands. The study used quantitative data collection techniques to obtain and analyse the data with the descriptive research approach. The study consists of three parts. In the first part, the literature review of the effects of the pandemic on the tourism industry is stated. Then, similar studies reveal people's preferences and behaviours that may occur during and after the pandemic. In the second part, a field study was conducted to get the opinions of people who plan to travel for a vacation after the pandemic by using social media tools through a questionnaire. As a result of the field study, it has been seen that the regions will come to the fore in travel preferences where the tourist density is low, precautions were taken, and less affected by the pandemic. In the last part of the study, through the findings obtained from the field research and similar studies, suggestions were presented to the destination planners, managers and tourism operators about the changes that may occur in the behaviour of tourists. The study's results show similarity with those obtained in similar studies conducted in Turkey and the world.