Governing sustainable tourism in time of COVID-19 disaster: empirical evidence from Bintan, Kepulauan Riau

Abstract

The COVID-19 disaster has brought various negative effects on human activities, including the tourism sector. However, only a few studies have conducted to the development and governance of tourism by the stakeholders during the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this study is to explain the governance of sustainable tourism during the COVID-19 outbreak. The research was conducted in Bintan Regency, Kepulauan Riau, by using a qualitative approach. The data were collected using an interview with several tourism stakeholders, involving business actors, resort owners, government, and village officials. The results suggest that the governing process of tourism in Bintan focused on formal policy and implementation. The government and business actors become crucial actors in helping the sustainability of tourism during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study can be used as a valuable recommendation to the government in managing tourism in the era of COVID-19.