Unravelling the effects of disruptive crises on residents’ support for tourism. Lessons from COVID-19

Abstract

Residents’ behaviour towards tourism could be affected by a major crisis such as the recent pandemic. In this context, we evaluate how specific elements, such as residents’ characteristics, perceptions on specific origins, and the development of alternative tourism activities and segments need to be considered in this analysis. The Social Exchange Theory is used as a conceptual framework, and the empirical analysis is done for Bangkok, a grand urban tourism destination. Our results indicate that residents are aware of the potential trade-off between economic prosperity and health concerns, and that they have a different perception towards tourists from different origins. Additionally, locals were more concerned about health considerations than foreigners. The findings and the conceptual framework can serve as guidelines for tourism organisations and authorities managing urban destinations in times of crises.