THE IMPACTS OF COVID-19 ON THE TRAVEL OF BRAZILIAN TOURISTS: CONJUNCTURE AND PERSPECTIVES IN THE OUTBREAK AND EXPANSION OF THE PANDEMIC IN BRAZIL

ABSTRACT:

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared, in 2020, a state of pandemic related to COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019). This study describes the characteristics of the epidemic and summarizes its forecast impacts on the tourism and travel sector, according to international organizations. The objective is to measure the impacts of the pandemic on travel and tourism, from the perspective of Brazilian consumers who were traveling, or intending to travel during the time of the spread of the disease. The specific objectives are: To identify impacts on current or scheduled trips; to describe how Brazilian tourists evaluate public measures and policies to mitigate the impacts on tourism; and to identify the perspective of respondents in relation to the practice of tourism and travel in the period after the outbreak. The methodology used was exploratory research, and a quantitative approach was used, with a websurvey design applied in April 2020. The results indicate that 69.51% of the respondents were directly impacted by the pandemic, with high levels of interference, resulting in them having to postpone their planned trips. The Participants supported social distancing measures, perceived that the pandemic had impacted on tourism, and took the view that it will only be safe to return to travel after more than six months. It is estimated that at the end of the pandemic, tourism may contribute to socioeconomic recovery.

KEYWORDS:
COVID-19; Coronavirus; Tourism and pandemics; Tourism and epidemics