A Post COVID19 Blueprint for Sustainable Tourism in Small Island Developing States

Abstract

The Covid-19 Pandemic has exposed the structural vulnerability of the global tourism industry affecting a vast chain of stakeholders, who whilst independent of each other are inextricably linked. The complexity and dynamism of the tourism industry render it particularly sensitive to internal and external random effects as witnessed with the rapid global expansion of this virulent pandemic and the responding severe quarantine and mobility measures imposed by national governments. Consequently, the fear generated by mass media and social media has led to successive border closures forcing overseas travellers to either cancel or indefinitely postpone travel plans. Could this be the opportunity to develop and implement a blueprint for adaptive and resilient tourism particularly in Small Island Developing States (SIDS)? The tourism sectors of these island states are highly vulnerable to external shocks the impacts of which are far reaching and potentially disastrous for long term national well-being. This pause provides a moment in time for the stakeholders of the Eastern Caribbean, Mauritius and Indonesia to ponder what robust and flexible strategic moves embrace multiple versions of a ‘new normal’ framed around well-being for local communities and visitors, sustainable economic growth and adequate mitigation measures to protect and conserve the environment.