Covid-19 Influence on The Digitalization of Travel Agencies' Training Policy Cover Image

Covid-19 Influence on The Digitalization of Travel Agencies' Training Policy
Covid-19 Influence on The Digitalization of Travel Agencies' Training Policy

Author(s): Nikola Tanakov, Daniel Parushev, Angel Stoykov
Subject(s): Economy, National Economy, Business Economy / Management
Published by: Институт по публични финанси
Keywords: tourism; COVID-19; impacts; recovery; sustainability; crisis; digitalization; transformation

Summary/Abstract: Objective: The article authors aim to make an extensive review of the current literature to clarify the conceptual apparatus and the difference between travel agencies and their users, as well as to trace the extent to which digitalization supports the communication between them from the COVID -19 transformation opportunities impact. To achieve this, the authors will first look at why and how COVID-19 can be an opportunity for transformation, discussing the circumstances and issues which are raised by the pandemic. Methodology: The article authors use a questionnaire to show in percentage terms the extent to which digitalization transforms and whether it improves communication between stakeholders. This type of research is the most widespread, because the feedback from the respondents can be assessed the fastest and to measure their satisfaction with the services in all areas of tourism, but especially in terms of tourist communication. The popularity of this method is due on the one hand to the different forms of conducting a survey (classic questionnaire, graphic questionnaire, mobile application), as well as the variety of means by which the method can be applied (electronic survey, paper survey, telephone survey). Surveys are widely recognizable among consumers, and they are generally open and willing to answer questions, especially if they are popular, attractively designed, time-consuming and easy to complete. The survey is among the methods that are suitable for constant, daily receiving feedback and measuring satisfaction. In order the survey to be effective, the authors of the article make an electronic version in which the risk of making a statistical error that would divert or change the rate of regression or decline is reduced. The survey was successfully conducted due to the current topic of the article and the motivation of the respondents. Correctly filled in questionnaires are 100 in number and they include not only travel agents but also their long-term users, the results are illustrated in the form of graphs, cakes, and are calculated in percentage so that one can confirm from the hypotheses that the authors set at the beginning of the study. Results: The article will also look at the main impacts, behaviors and experiences by three major tourism stakeholders (tourism demand, supply and destination management organizations and politicians) during the three phases of COVID-19 (response, recovery and reset). Implication: In this way, this article identifies the basic values, institutions and suggestions which the tourism industry and the scientific community must challenge and break in order to advance and zero the boundaries of research and practice. This provides an overview of the type and scale of tourism impacts and the COVID-19 implications in the tourism field.

  • Issue Year: 4/2022
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 18-25
  • Page Count: 7
  • Language: English