Evolution of Tourist Behavior: Pre-Pandemic, Amidst COVID-19, and Post-Pandemic Trends

Abstract

The Corona Virus pandemic has rocked the tourism industry as countries sealed their borders and billions of people sheltered at home. But, as summer draws closer, ears that many areas reliant on tourism will miss out on their biggest season, countries and businesses are beginning to take cautious steps to reinstate travel services. To begin with behavioural pattern of tourists will undergo a massive change. Their preferred destination, cultures, adapting new habitat, mannerism will certainly not be as before. People have now become fully aware about the spread and outcome of this virus. Nevertheless, it has engulfed almost the whole globe. In this paper, analysis has been done to know the trends in tourism regarding perception, attitude, learning and motivating factors in the present context. Social distancing is the new terminology entering every phase of a tourist from choice of destination, planning, traveling, lodging, and dining. First-hand information will be sought from respondents belonging to different sector, different age groups, regular tourists, students, senior officials, businessmen. A questionnaire comprising of questions from different parameters will be asked. Online responses will be collected and analysed.  Personal hygiene, cleanliness of food, dining area, lodging premises along with extensive use of sanitizer is the new beginning. Intimacy with friends, relatives and others are showing a downward trend. Western culture and its mannerism have started to take back seat in almost all kinds of professional meetings.