Analysis of the Conduct and Strategies of Tour Operators and Travel Agencies During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Analýza správania a stratégií touroperátorov a cestovných kancelárií počas pandémie COVID-19

Martina Drašarová, Soňa Cardová, Eva Janoušková

In: Geografické informácie (Geographical Information), Ročník (Volume) 26, Číslo (Issue) 1, 2022, p. 228-243, ISSN 1337-9453

DOI: 10.17846/GI.2022.26.1.228-243

Abstract

This article focuses on research and analysis of the behavior and strategies of tour operators and travel agencies in the Czech Republic during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim is to analyze the newly adopted procedures, assess the challenges they still face and map the attitudes that had to engage and respond to paralyzed opportunities in business activities. The basic research methods were a combination of personal interviews and emails with closed and openended questions. The responses were subjected to qualitative data analysis. Quantitative research in the form of online questionnaires was also conducted, in which a sample of 427 tour operators and travel agencies of various sizes and from different parts of the Czech Republic were contacted, in which we verified and evaluated the strength and functioning of individual trends. The results were finally presented as a descriptive analysis. The analysis showed that the main problems for the surveyed entities are destination preferences that transform according to the degree of risk, monitoring of constant changes and measures in individual countries, insufficient government business support or personnel and supply changes. The interviews show that building the long-term background of supplier companies and loyal clients help the overall situation the most.

Keywords: COVID-19, Czech Republic, pandemic, tourism, tour operators, travel agencies

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