COVID-19 Crisis and the Future of Tourist Guiding : Economic Survival Strategies

Описание: Economic Impacts of COVID-19 on Tourist Guides in Türkiye
Tourist Guides and Financial Vulnerability During the Pandemic
Pandemic Uncertainty in the Tourism Guiding Profession
Tourist Guides Facing Crisis and Financial Instability
COVID-19 and the Fragility of Tourism Labor
Tourism Guides, Unemployment, and Crisis Management

This academic study investigates the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on tourist guides in Türkiye through a qualitative research approach. Based on in-depth interviews conducted with professional guides affiliated with İzmir Tourist Guides Chamber, the research explores major issues such as income loss, unemployment, financial insecurity, and professional uncertainty experienced during the pandemic period. The findings reveal that the near-complete suspension of tourism activities created severe economic vulnerability among tourist guides, forcing many to reduce expenses, consume personal savings, or seek temporary employment in different sectors outside tourism. The study also criticizes the limited effectiveness of financial support mechanisms provided by public institutions and professional organizations during the crisis. Beyond economic consequences, the research highlights the psychological pressure and weakened professional identity experienced by guides as a result of prolonged uncertainty within the tourism industry. In response to these challenges, the study proposes the establishment of unemployment protection funds for tourism workers, stronger professional solidarity networks, and more comprehensive crisis management policies to improve resilience against future disruptions. Ultimately, the work documents the structural fragility of tourist guiding as a profession and emphasizes the need for sustainable institutional reforms to protect one of the tourism sector’s most essential human components

#academia #respectshorts #turizmakademi #tourismacademia #tourism #covid