Tourist guides facing the impacts of the pandemic COVID-19

Abstract

This study reveals the impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak on the profession of tourist guides and offers possible solutions to the industry. The study draws from the recently published studies and guides’ perspectives from 36 countries. E-mail interview is used to collect data between 25 February and 30 May 2020 when the epidemic is spreading rapidly worldwide. The analysis is performed by using MAXQDA Analytics. The study captures events on COVID-19, as guides experience unemployment and trauma, and provides social and practical implications concerning cooperation and collaboration of stakeholders, the occurrence of inequality, and unfairness in the pandemic.