Aspects of Functioning of Hotel Enterprises of the Transcarpathian Region in the Conditions of a Pandemic

Abstract

The general features of functioning and adaptation of hotel enterprises of Zakarpattia region in the conditions of pandemic are investigated in the article. Revealed the issues and relevance of the selected topic, which relate to the impact on global, regional and local economic processes of the fact of the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Were analyzed the available publications of Ukrainian and foreign authors on related topics, concerning the vision of the impact of the pandemic on the functioning of the labor market of Ukraine, reaction and adaptation of education systems of different countries to the consequences of lockdown, assessments of the general problems of the hotel industry that have arisen in the process of spreading the global pandemic, the role of business innovation applied by hospitality companies during the COVID-19 crisis. The dynamics of the distribution of tourist flows in the Transcarpathian region during 2000-2019, ie in the precoronavirus stage, this allows us to identify the main trends that dominated in the field of hospitality. On the basis of a questionnaire developed and conducted by the authors, the partial results of certain aspects of scientific research are formed. The adaptation factors implemented by hotel enterprises are considered and ranked - from the most successful to the least used (compliance with antivirus measures and recommendations, change of mode of transport, new types of tourist routes, electronic means of booking and registration, organization of online tours, excursions, etc.), the scale of efficiency of factors of adaptation which is based on an estimation of average value of their usefulness is created. Demonstrated the percentage of effectiveness of measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus (compliance with social distancing, mask regimen, use of disinfectants and antiseptics, wet periodic cleaning, temperature measurement); the main causes of business complications are given; the forecasted periods of recovery of small hotel enterprises at the pre-crisis level are visualized. Relevant conclusions have been drawn from the findings and recommendations are being developed to mitigate the effects of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Trends in the Functioning of the Tourism Sector in Crisis Conditions on the Example of Hotel Enterprises of the Transcarpathian Region, Ukraine

“…Transcarpathian region is the only region of Ukraine that borders four countries (Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania), its geographical location creates extremely favorable conditions for the development and functioning of the tourism sector, this is also facilitated by the presence of a base of natural, historical and cultural resources on which the entire hospitality infrastructure of the region is formed (Slava, Chyniak, 2021).…”

“…Recessions are explained by periods of economic instability in the state; the decrease in the number of tourists in 2014-2015 is associated with military conflicts in eastern Ukraine and Crimea (Slava, Chyniak, 2021).…”

“…The most unfavorable situation occurred with foreign tourists, whose number decreased significantly from 2010 and did not recover until 2019 (Slava, Chyniak, 2021).…”

“…Tourism and the hospitality sector proved to be perhaps the most vulnerable in a situation where almost 100% of all world destinations were closed. Cancellation of transport links left a significant mark on the hospitality sector both in the world and in Ukraine (Slava, Chyniak, 2021).…”

“…), which was gradually introduced within the framework of differentiated restrictions in different quarantine zones. Every significant recession is followed by a period of recovery of economic indicators to the pre-crisis level (Slava, Chyniak, 2021). At the moment it is impossible to make an accurate forecast of restructuring, because the economic situation and in the normal mode of operation are influenced by a large number of factors at different levels of influence, and the effect of such levers as the difficult epidemiological situation in 2020-2021 and the war in 2022 will be felt even more significantly time.…”