How an Infectious Disease Could Influence the Development of a Region: The Evidence of the SARS-CoV-2 Outbreak over the Tourism Intentions in Azores Archipelago

Year 2021, Volume: 23 Issue: Special Issue, 106 - 112, 30.03.2021

Rui Castanho , Gualter Couto , Pedro Pimentel , Aurea Sousa , Célia Barreto Carvalho , Maria Da Graça Batista

https://doi.org/10.18678/dtfd.869791

Cited By: 5

Abstract

Aim: After a contagious disease outbreak, as is the case of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), societal dynamics shift on an unconventional level. In the lack of a vaccine, social distancing and massive lockdowns are acquired as the most effective strategies to contain this new virus. In this regard, the present study was carried out to determine the influence of SARS-CoV-2 over the Azores territory activities as tourism and consequent regional development impacts.
Material and Methods: Therefore, the study assessed the decision-makers, the public, and tourists' perceptions regarding this disease outbreak by applying testing tools as questionnaires. This study used a sample of 700 participants. The questionnaires were designed, considering the necessity to carry out online interviews, and were implemented in the Spring months of 2020. After the data from the surveys were gathered, analytical methods and tools were used.
Results: The research recognized that during an infectious disease outbreak, people prioritized spending their vacations at the holiday residence of family or friends (20%) instead of touristic resorts (hotels or rented apartments or houses). Also, the study verified a considerable increase in selecting rural tourism accommodations. Besides, more than half of the study participants considered that the “Clean and Safe” stamp (attributed by the Portuguese Health Authorities) is crucial when choosing accommodation and restaurants (75.8%) as well as for choosing the destination to visit (50.5%).
Conclusion: The study assumes enormous consequences of the SARS-CoV-2 crisis at multi-levels, being the tourism activity the most affected in this ultra-peripheral region.

Keywords

Azores archipelago, regional studies, SARS-COV-2, sustainable planning, territorial impacts

Supporting Institution

FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia

Project Number

UIDB/00685/2020

Thanks

This paper is financed by Portuguese national funds through FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., project number UIDB/00685/2020 and also by the project GREAT—Genuine Rural Experiences in the Azores Tourism with the code: ACORES-01-0145-FEDER-000089.

Bulaşıcı Hastalıklar Bölgesel Kalkınmayı Nasıl Etkiler: Azor Adaları’nda SARS-CoV-2 Salgınının Turizm Sektörüne Etkileri

Abstract

Amaç: Şiddetli akut solunum yolu sendromu koronavirüsü 2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, SARS-CoV-2)’nin yol açtığı bulaşıcı hastalık sosyal hayatı alışılagelmedik bir şekilde etkilemiştir. Aşılamaya kadar, bu yeni virüsü kontrol altına almak için sosyal mesafe ve kitlesel kısıtlamalar en etkili stratejiler olarak ortaya çıkmaktadır. Bu çerçevede, bu çalışma SARS-CoV-2’nin Azores bölgesi turizm sektörü faaliyetleri üzerindeki etkilerinin ve bölgesel kalkınmaya yansımalarının incelenmesi amacıyla yürütülmüştür.
Gereç ve Yöntemler: Bu nedenle bu çalışmada, anket yöntemi uygulanarak karar alıcıların, kamunun ve turistlerin gözünden bu salgının algısı değerlendirildi. Çalışmanın örneklemi 700 katılımcıdan oluşmaktadır. Anketler, çevrimiçi görüşme yapma gerekliliği göz önünde bulundurularak tasarlanmış ve 2020 yılının ilkbahar aylarında uygulanmıştır. Anketlerden elde edilen veriler toplandıktan sonra analitik yöntemler ve araçlar ile değerlendirilmiştir.
Bulgular: Araştırma sonuçlarına göre bu bulaşıcı hastalık salgını döneminde bireyler tatil tercihlerini turistik tatil tesisleri (oteller veya daire ya da ev kiralamak)’nden ziyade öncelikli olarak aile veya arkadaşlarının tatil evinde geçirme (%20) doğrultusunda yapmışlardır. Ayrıca, tatil tercihlerinde kırsal kesim turizm konaklama yerlerinin seçiminde de önemli artışlar olduğu gözlenmiştir. Bunun yanında, araştırmaya katılan bireylerin yarısından fazlası konaklama ve restoran seçiminde (%75,8), ve ziyaret edilecek olan destinasyonların seçiminde (%50,5) Portekiz Sağlık Kurulları tarafından tescillenen “Temiz ve Güvenli” pulunun bulunmasının çok önemli olduğunu düşünmekteydi.
Sonuç: Bu çalışma, SARS-CoV-2 dolayısıyla ortaya çıkan olumsuzlukların birçok katmanda ağır etkilerinin varlığını, özellikle bu çok periferdeki bölgede turizmin en fazla etkilenen sektör olduğunu ortaya koymuştur.

Keywords

Azor takımadaları, bölgesel çalışmalar, SARS-COV-2, sürdürülebilir planlama, bölgesel etkiler

Project Number

UIDB/00685/2020

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