The Effects of Covid-19 Pandemic and Recovery Strategies for the Travel and Tourism Sector in Bangladesh

S.M. Shariful Haque — 2021-01-01

Purpose: This study's purpose is twofold: first, to examine the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on Bangladesh's travel and tourism sector and second, to suggest some recovery strategies to reduce the negative effects of this pandemic so that the travel and tourism sector of Bangladesh can bounce back.

Methods: This study is qualitative in nature, applying secondary data analysis technique to collect data from various sources, which includes academic journals, news articles, and websites of different professional bodies like the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), Travel Owners Association of Bangladesh (TOAB), etc.

Results: The findings indicate that Bangladesh's travel and tourism sector has been impacted considerably by the pandemic due to travel restrictions, movement control order, apprehension of Covid-19 contamination, etc. Some recovery strategies are also suggested to minimize the pandemic's detrimental consequences.

Implications: This research provides guidelines for tourism marketers, which will help them to revise their strategies so that they will be able to remove anxiety from travelers’ minds and influence their visit intention.

Originality: Covid-19 pandemic and its effects on the travel and tourism sector have been an emergent research area since travel and tourism is one of the severely affected sectors during the pandemic. However, so far insufficient studies related to this area in the context of Bangladesh are available. Hence, this research is an attempt to bridge this gap in the literature.

Measuring Hospitality and Tourism Management Students’ Satisfaction with Work Related Learning Using Partial Least Squares in Zimbabwe

Absai Chakaipa — 2021-04-22

Purpose: The study assessed Tourism and Hospitality Students’ satisfaction with work-related learning (WRL) attachment using a two-stage extended model proposed by Taylor and Geldenhuys (2019). It also intends to determine if there are significant student satisfaction differences between males and females and between the students pursuing bachelor or diploma in Tourism and hospitality. Also, the study assessed if there is a moderation effect of a third variable (intermediate) on expectation and perception to students’ satisfaction.

Method: Data were collected from 488 students using a survey instrument at the onset and at the end of the attachment. Analysis of results was done using both SPSS 23 and R 4.0.3. The study also applied the Multi-Group Analysis-Partial Least Squares (MGA-PLS) analysis permutation to test students’ satisfaction.

Results: The research found no significant differences between males and females, and the students’ category (bachelor and diploma) on both Expectation-Satisfaction and Perception-Satisfaction relationship in model A. However, the study found significant differences between males and females in the perception-satisfaction relationship in Model B. The MGSA-PLS results revealed that male students have a positive and significant effect on the perception-satisfaction relationship as opposed to a negative and insignificant effect for females. The moderating effect test revealed that a third construct, INTER - Intermediate variable (a product of construct Perceptions and Expectation) has a positive impact on student satisfaction.

Implications: There is a need for collaboration between hospitality industry players and academics in curriculum design, so as to meet the demands of the industry.

Hospitality & Tourism Review

The Effects of Covid-19 Pandemic and Recovery Strategies for the Travel and Tourism Sector in Bangladesh

Measuring Hospitality and Tourism Management Students’ Satisfaction with Work Related Learning Using Partial Least Squares in Zimbabwe