Crisis Management in Travel and Tourism Industry: Response to COVID-19

International Travel and Tourism Management
Unit 18 and Unit 19 Research Project (RQF) L5
Project Proposal Form
Session: February 2020
Student Name Student ID
Tutor Date
Unit Number:
Research Theme: Crisis management in the travel and tourism industry
Research Topic:
Section One: Title, aims, objectives
Title
The travel and tourism sector response to Covid-19 and crisis management practices
Research Aim
To determine the response of travel and tourism sector towards COVID-19 and practices of crisis
management
Research Objectives
 To analyse the various practices of crisis management used by travel and tourism industry.
 To investigate the challenges faced by travel and tourism industry due to implication of
COVID-19.
 To examine the response given by travel and tourism industry to deal with issues of COVID-
19.
 To inspect the role of crisis management practices within travel and tourism industry.
Research Questions
 What are the various practices of crisis management used by travel and tourism industry.
 What are the challenges faced by travel and tourism industry due to implication of COVID-
19.
 What is the response given by travel and tourism industry to deal with issues of COVID-19.

 What is the role of crisis management practices within travel and tourism industry.

Section Two: Reasons for choosing this research project
The main objective of conducting the present investigation is to determine the impact of COVID-19
pandemic on the different operations and functions of the hospitality industry. It is being identified
that the global pandemic has disturbed the operations and activities of the whole hospitality sector.
So, the present investigation aims at identifying the weaknesses and challenges faced by them and
the different ways considered by them to overcome such challenges (Li, Yao and Chen, 2021). The
main reason of selecting COVID-19 is as it has created the working and functioning of every type of
industry. There are two other objectives that are aimed to fulfil by completing the current
investigation. These objectives are from two different perspectives i.e. personal and professional.
From this investigation I will learn about the behaviour that an individual must have while dealing
with tough and challenging situations like COVID-19 pandemic. From professional perspective, I
would learn about the various strategies to form so that operations and activities of companies can
be handled effectively and efficiently.
Section Three: Literature sources searched
What are the various practices of crisis management used by travel and tourism industry.
According to Lai and Wong, (2020), there are various practices of crisis management which are used
by the travel and tourism industry. The significance of crisis management is related with making
good image of the organisation in terms of managing negative time so that customers may get to
know with greatest aspects. For industry of tourism crisis management is related with developing
plans and measures so that they can be used within the industry in order to minimise negative
impact over the industry. There are different crisis which are seen by travel and tourism industry
such as environment crisis, social crisis, health related crisis and economic crisis. In order to manage
different crisis various measures are taken such as in order to deal with environment crisis
sustainable measures are undertaken by the industry so that long term survival can be given. On the
other hand, in order to manage social crisis needs and preferences of customers are understood so
that success can be acquired by the business.
What are the challenges faced by travel and tourism industry due to implication of COVID-19.
According to Ivanov and et. al., (2020), The pandemic of COVID-19 has impacted the travel and
tourism industry to its highest peak as the industry is facing huge losses. COVID-19 has created
huge impact within the industry as the industry is wholly dependent over their customers. The major
issue of covid was related with managing the revenue gap as organisation will have to backed up by
funds due to minimum customer footfall and lesser market availability. These are the challenges
which are related with business function execution and the same could provide issues in the industry
to manage customers.
What is the response given by travel and tourism industry to deal with issues of COVID-19.
According to Miles and Shipway, (2020), the industry of travel and tourism is having various issues
which are faced within the industry due to implication of COVID and these are the impacts which
are related with sustainability and business functions. The crisis of COVID is unpredictable in
nature which means that the industry need to respond the effects so that to manage their business
functions for longer duration of time. In order to provide appropriate responses the industry is
restoring travellers confidence in such a way that they can take decisions in appropriate manner. On
the other hand, the industry is also filling the gap between customers and location so that to acquire
growth stage.
What is the role of crisis management practices within travel and tourism industry.
According to Verma and Gustafsson, (2020), the major role of crisis management is to manage such
events which are uncertain in nature and having greatest impact over the organisation. Crisis are
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having greatest risks within the organisation so that guidance can be activated within the industry.
Role of crisis management is developing effective planning so that the situation of contingency can
be managed in easy manner. In this the role of crisis management within tour and tourism industry is
related with business and continuity plans.
Section Four: Activities and timescales
Activities to be carried out during the research
project (e.g. planning, conducting research,
analysis, write-ups)
How long this will take: (See Gantt Chart below)
Milestone one: .....Literature review
Target date (set by tutor): ...........Week 4 to week 7..............................................................................
Milestone two: ...............Research Methodology..........................................................................
Target date (set by tutor): ..........................Week 8 to week 11...............................................................
Section Five: Research approach and methodologies
Research methodologies is one of the significant methods that assist in assembling and
analysing information with the purpose of meeting defined aim and objectives. They help in
using information that is related to the topic of investigation. This provides effective methods to
analyse the reliable and relevant data in the defined time duration.
Research Philosophy: Research philosophy is the procedure that helps in the evaluation of data
in effective and efficient way. The philosophy is are of three main kinds that are: epistemology,
ontology and realism. Researcher will choose epistemology philosophy as it provides three
more kinds that are: critical realism, positivism and interpretivism. Positivism is the process of
collecting, evaluating and using quantitative data within the research, whereas interpretivism is
the process used to evaluate qualitative research. Researcher will select positivism philosophy
because it helps in analysing numeric data in the given period of time. This assists in evaluating
the validity and reliability of the assembled numeric data and as in current research quantitative
research methods will be used so positivism research philosophy will give assistance to the
researcher in completing the research in numerical manner (Nayak and Singh, 2021).
Research Approach: Research approach is defined as the important methodology as it gives
out particular procedure for identifying, interpreting and analysing the data related to the
selected topic. In the current investigation, the approach plays major role in assembling apt data
which is apt, relevant, appropriate and reliable. This approach is of three significant kinds that
are: deductive, inductive and abductive. Deductive approach is based on maintaining
relationship between measures concepts in quantitative manner whereas inductive approach is
aligned with managing the research in qualitative manner. Researcher will select deductive
approach as it facilitates researcher in testing and measuring the numerical piece of information
in short time duration. Deductive approach will be used by investigator so that reliability and
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