The paradox of tourism extremes. Excesses and restraints in times of COVID-19

Abstract

This paper seeks to highlight underlying issues of the tourism system that have led to tourism extremes of too much or too little tourism. Five phases are recognized that reflect different ways of dealing with too much tourism over time, after which the impact of a sudden lack of tourism is investigated in light of future renewal processes. This discussion highlights the remarkable capacity of the tourism industry to adjust to rapidly changing circumstances and crises, even when these cause anguish to individuals and within societies at large. The paper thus seeks to contextualize the current discussions regarding the transformation of tourism post COVID-19. It highlights the complexity of changing a tourism that multiple stakeholders depend on or have grown accustomed to. To come to a more balanced tourism, it is necessary to not only come up with alternative visions and strategies, but also to engage with the political economy nature of tourism development. A future research agenda should therefore also discuss facets of entangled power, social exclusion, inequalities and class differences to come to new reference points of what actually constitutes a more inclusive tourism success.

COVID-19 vaccine confidence and tourism at the early stage of a voluntary mass vaccination campaign: a PMT segmentation analysis

“…These findings thus suggest a relationship among personal experiences with the virus in the hardest-hit regions, personal risk-perception, and increasing vaccine confidence. It also might hint that the pandemic has affected different strata of society differently (Milano & Koens, 2021), which might reflect on their vaccinerelated behaviour.…”

Undertourism vs. Overtourism

“…In their narrative review, Milano and Koens (2021) synthesized all relevant research. They concluded that both overtourism and undertourism are the results of underlying issues of the current tourism political economy.…”

“…According to their results, the best way to manage tourism is to find a balance while promoting social justice and recalibrating the political economy of tourism. They pointed out that many still do not have a political will, clear alternative vision, or strategy despite the need for a balance (Milano & Koens, 2021). Séraphin and Ivanov (2020) offering a revenue management solution to resolve overtourism and undertourism problems, noted that those destinations that suffer from underutilization of their accommodation establishments and low occupancy rates suffer from undertourism.…”

Envisioning the futures of cultural tourism

“…For instance, in mid-May 2020, the French government released 18 billion euros to help tourism overcome what former Prime Minister Édouard Philippe described as "the worst ordeal" in the country's history. As Christin warns, with recovery packages on the horizon lies the illusion of green tourism growth that perpetuates an unsustainable tourism system, thus leading to a potential dystopian future ( Milano & Koens, 2021 ).…”