'Splendid isolation': Embracing islandness in a global pandemic

Abstract

Islandness is often considered to be a disadvantage. However, it has helped the residents of islands to delay, deter, and, in some cases, totally insulate themselves from COVID-19. While islanders have been quick to lock themselves down, this has had a tremendous impact on their connectivity and on tourism, which in many cases is their major economic sector. Yet, the association of islands with being safe, “COVID-19 free” zones has helped these spaces to be among the first destinations to restart the tourism economy once travel restrictions were lifted. After several weeks of lockdown, and with the COVID-19 threat still looming, social distancing remained the norm. Travellers were thus eager to immerse themselves in island environments while avoiding crowds and seeking small accommodation facilities in less densely populated rural areas to limit the risks of infection — a package offered by several islands in the central Mediterranean. With many travellers opting to travel close to home, islands benefited from domestic tourism — a key market segment for islands in this region. Islands have thus performed relatively well in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and in restarting their economies; but the pandemic has also exposed challenges including a dangerous overreliance on tourism.

The influence of nature on well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic: Views from New England island residents

“…Research on the immense impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on island populations is rapidly growing (Cuschieri & Grech, 2021;Matheson, 2022;Ripoll et al, 2021;Sindico et al, 2020). Topics of inquiry include the effect of quarantine measures, geographical isolation, concerns over mental health, impact on the physical and economic health of island residents, as well as the role of tourism during this unprecedented time (Agius et al, 2022;Baldacchino, 2018;Cuschieri & Grech, 2021;Galetic, 2020;Hakim, 2020;Matheson, 2022;Ripoll et al, 2021;Sindico et al, 2020). Common findings across island populations include the significance of community, limited access to resources and healthcare, and increased awareness of economic disparities.…”

COVID‐19 in the Pacific territories: Isolation, borders and the complexities of governance

“…The ability to impose border restrictions—without heightened concern for economic issues because of the valuable role of external support—was crucial, notably contributing to the absence of COVID‐19 in Tokelau and its delay in reaching Wallis and Futuna, American Samoa and Pitcairn. In territoriesʼ outer islands, frictions and tyrannies of distance proved valuable, when the disadvantages of insularity, isolation and remoteness were immediately reversed (e.g., Agius et al., 2022 ; Panadès‐Estruch, 2021 ; Telesford, 2021 ). Crucially, however, both in Pacific Island territories and elsewhere (Perdikaris et al., 2022 ; Roberts & Kelman, 2022 ), the manner in which COVID‐19 was managed, and the political relations involved, were more important for health security outcomes than insularity.…”

Mitigating seasonality patterns in an archipelago: the role of ecotourism

“…The COVID-19 outbreak has left a drastic impact on tourism in the area of study (Agius et al 2021). However, ecotourism can serve as an opportunity to relaunch tourism.…”