Hospitality and Tourism Industry amid COVID-19 Pandemic: Perspectives on Challenges and Learnings from India

Kaushal, Vikrant; Srivastava, Sidharth

COVID-19 outbreak has presented unprecedented circumstances before the fragile tourism and hospitality industry. The highly infectious novel coronavirus continues to thwart the sector and raises serious questions about the present and future survival of the sector. The study draws on the interviews with 15 participants in senior positions in hospitality industry, and tourism and hospitality education services. Various themes that emerged from the content analysis of interview responses related to the COVID-19 pandemic have been condensed and presented. The dominant themes that emerged out of the qualitative enquiry included need of multiskilling and professional development of the employees, increased sense of hygiene, sanitation and related SOPs, optimism toward rival of the industry, media roles, and need of better crisis preparedness, followed by provisions for reserved funds, adoption of technology in future, costs and expense related aspects etc. The study critically discussed prominent themes in the light of the existing arguments from the literature and reflects on implications for the decision makers. Limitations and scope of future research has also been highlighted.