COVID-19 and Tourism Geography at a Crossroads: Challenges, Opportunities and Moving Forward

ABSTRACT

The COVID-19 pandemic had widespread impacts for those engaged in tourism geography education and research. This chapter incorporates diverse international perspectives to consider the ways in which tourism geographers across 11 countries are responding to the challenges - and the opportunities - the pandemic presented in both teaching and research as we move forward in a post-COVID-19 world. Tourism geography educators were quick to adapt to the virtual delivery mode and the dramatic changes that occurred in 2020. However, educators were concerned about their inability to engage students in field experiences. Tourism geography researchers encountered challenges related to research topics, fieldwork, and methodologies. Yet, countless new short- and long-term research topics emerged from the pandemic. Overall, tourism geographers are optimistic that they will have a vital role to play in understanding and shaping patterns of tourism in the future. In particular, these geographers felt that increased engagement with communities is important in working toward a tourism landscape that is more resilient, sustainable, and equitable. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022.