The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic Crisis on the Tourism in Jordan

This research study analyzes the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the tourism industry in Jordan and provides recommendations for recovery.

THE IMPACT OF COVID-19
PANDEMIC CRISIS ON
THE TOURISM IN JORDAN

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................3
Background and Purpose.............................................................................................................3
Objectives....................................................................................................................................3
Research Question.......................................................................................................................3
Hypothesis...................................................................................................................................4
Study Model.................................................................................................................................4
Theoretical Frameworks..............................................................................................................4
Literature Review........................................................................................................................4
Methodology................................................................................................................................7
Expected findings........................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
The current outbreak of Corona Virus which began in December 2019 has affected each and
every economy in the world and has led to the lockdown of the entire world where people cannot
roam in the streets freely and are forced to stay inside their houses for their own safety (Zheng,
Goh and Wen, 2020). In the following research proposal, the area of research will be to ascertain
the impact that this global pandemic has had on the tourism of Jordan in particular and the
expectations from this industry. Different challenges and barriers will also be identified and the
appropriate recommendations will be given in the end of the research that can assist in reducing
the impact of the Covid- 19 pandemic.
MAIN BODY
Background and Purpose
Jordan is mainly a tourist country where majority of its scenic locations and views attracts
many visitors throughout the year. However, the economy of the country is not very strong and
in the past few years, the economy has constantly faced many challenges. The current surge of
Covid- 19 pandemic has led to the shutting down of the entire world literally where everyone is
refusing to go out and the fear of contracting this incurable disease has severely affected their
mindset (Ivanov and et.al., 20). Therefore, the tourism industry is also bound to affect heavily
due to this lack of tourism and the expected time that will be taken in future as well to regain the
momentum of this industry. Overall, the impact of Covid- 19 will be analysed mainly on the
tourism sector of Jordan and appropriate conclusions will be drawn.
Objectives
Aim: To identify the impact of Covid- 19 on tourism. A case study on Jordan tourism.
Objectives:
 To identify the effect of Covid- 19 on tourism industry.
 To identify the impact this has had on the tourism industry of Jordan in particular.
 To ascertain the challenges that will arise in boosting the industry back.
 To recommend appropriate strategies that can be adopted in order to meet the challenges
identified.
Research Question
 What is the effect of Covid- 19 on tourism industry?
 What is the impact of spread of Covid- 19 on the tourism industry of Jordan in particular?
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 What are the challenges that can arise in boosting the tourism industry back?
 Which strategies can be recommended for the challenges that have been identified in revival
of the tourism industry of Jordan?
Hypothesis
Hypothesis is normally formulated where the data that is being evaluated is measurable
and can be tested by application of different tools and techniques:
H0 (Null Hypothesis): There will be no impact of Covid- 19 on the tourism of Jordan.
H1 (Hypothesis): The will be an impact of Covid- 19 on the tourism industry of Jordan.
Study Model
The study model that will be selected for the proposed research that is to be undertaken
will be qualitative model of research. This is because there is currently no numerical data that is
available to map the impact of Covid- 19 on the actual number of customers that have been lost
and therefore it will be very difficult to complete the research satisfactorily without authentic and
adequate data (Kumar, 2019). Additionally, using qualitative model will help in analysing other
facts apart from the numerical data such as identifying the human emotions and belief or
sentiments that are associated with the research i.e. psychological factors in perspective of
tourism.
Theoretical Frameworks
The theoretical framework basically signifies the theories that will be used in the research
to increase the comprehensiveness of this research (Quinlan and et.al., 2019). In the proposed
research, the major variable is the tourism and therefore, diamond model of tourism can be used
to facilitate the research being undertaken. This will help in evaluation of all the associated facts
that are relevant to the research.
Literature Review
Literature review helps in collection of all the relevant articles, case studies and journals
that have already been published previously by different authors (Ruiz Estrada, Park and Lee,
2020). Such collected research papers are then analysed in the positive or negative light in which
they present themselves and use it in the context of proposed research.
Theme 1: Effect of Covid- 19 on tourism industry
In the research paper published by Ozili and Arun (2020), they have stated that the
pandemic Covid- 19 has forced everyone to return back to their homes and live a secluded life
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where they are restricted to go out and roam freely. Tourism is one such industry that has been
affected heavily because the fear of getting in contact with a contaminated person and then
contracting the corona virus has affected the mentality of people severely. They are no longer
comfortable with the idea of roaming freely in their own cities, let alone them going for the
travel and tourism leisure in other countries. The tourism industry has been severely hit and, as
the authors perceive, it might be very long before it can finally gain its full momentum back.
However, on the other hand, research paper published by Shahidi (2020), contradicts the
point above stating that the tourism industry is not the only industry that has been hit further, as
they say, regardless of this pandemic, the industry will very quickly gain back its momentum.
The authors Fallah, Krafft and Wahba (2019), in their research paper reveal that despite
the fear that has been instilled in the people the tourism industry will not take long to recover.
The reason that authors gave was that it is inevitable to curb the desire to explore or roam within
people and they would do it despite being hit by pandemic. The authors further stated that the
tourism industry is not simply an industry for leisure and entertainment but there are many
people whose very lives and livelihood depend on the tourism thus making the recovery of the
tourism industry sooner than anticipated.
Theme 2: Impact of Covid- 19 on Jordan’s tourism
Authors, Koirala and Acharya (2020), state in their research paper that in the past years,
Jordan has already been inflicted with the slower economy and other such challenges in their
tourism business. The authors present a very strong point stating that the outbreak of this
pandemic has made an already vulnerable economy more vulnerable. The sealing of all the
tourism activities has affected the economy already because tourism industry is a major GDP
contributor for the country and with lack of any such activities, there are many people whose
lives have been at stake.
Further, Maliszewska, Mattoo and Van Der Mensbrugghe (2020), state that the effect of
pandemic will leave the economy in heavy financial burden with almost nullified international
reserves and the severe hit to the economy will be a very difficult thing to cope from in the
upcoming years.
Contradicting to the point above, the Hoque and et.al., (2020), have stated in their
research paper that despite the impact on the tourism industry of the Jordan, the government is
taking many initiatives where they are constantly working to create stability in the economy and
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help them in addressing the current situation of Pandemic. The projects that the government is
making in order to redevelop the tourism industry, the historical significance that its tourism
destinations carry and the scenic beauty are enough factors for the travellers to return back to
Jordan.
Further, Barry and et.al., (2020), have said that the relaxation in the tourism restrictions
and the policies that have been developed will help more in increasing the tourism industry and
its contribution in Jordan. The authors therefore concluded that the tourism sector of Jordan
would recover as quickly as possible for the economy after the crisis of this pandemic is fully
overcome.
Theme 3: Challenges that can arise in boosting the tourism after the pandemic subsides
As per the research paper published by Peters, Peters and Peters (2020), there are
significant challenges that the economy of Jordan can ace in order to revitalise their tourism
industry and attract the tourists to their country again. The authors have illustrated that the major
challenge would be to remove the fear that this pandemic is expected to leave and this is more of
a psychological process that will take time.
Another major challenge, as presented by Mor (2020), is that cleanliness and sanitation
will become a major part in the future for retaining the travellers where cleaner surroundings and
better healthcare precautions as well. The need for ensuring that they are moving towards a safe
environment will be the more consuming one and therefore, this will also be a major challenge.
Further, the research paper published by Dinarto, Wanto and Sebastian (2020), further state
that there are many internal reasons that the entire economy will have to face in order to improve
the tourism industry’s functioning. Since the economy of Jordan will be further weakened, it
might be difficult for government to grant concessions that will be required by all the industries.
Additionally, as authors, Cascella and et.al., (2020), have stated, the prices cannot be
increased heavily because of the economic state of people all under the state of lockdown would
not be able to meet increased travelling expenses and living expenses. Therefore, the financial
burden and economic degradation is one of the most challenging aspects that Jordan’s
government will have to face. Apart from this, there will be many barriers in re-establishing the
industry successfully but it can be achieved when the actions are cautious and well planned.
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Methodology
The research methodology involves an assortment of research tools or techniques that the
researcher or scholar can use while undertaking their selected research study. There are a variety
of tools or techniques that can be used and these can be determined by evaluation of different
aspects such as research type, approach, philosophy, data collection and analysis etc. (Turnbull,
Chugh and Luck, 2020). In the proposed research, the researcher will undertake qualitative
research so that rather than ascertaining the impact in numerical or quantitative manner,
qualitative data related to facts can be ascertained and analysed.
Research approach: The research approach is the series of steps or an elaborate plan that will be
adopted by the researcher in order conduct the research comprehensively and not leave any
critical part of data. There are mainly two classifications of research approaches, inductive and
deductive approach. Inductive is used for analysis of qualitative data where the observations and
theories are tested and it is ascertained that whether they hold true or not (Bairagi and Munot,
2019). Deductive on the other hand includes quantitative data where the numerical data is tested
to identify whether the generalized theories can be drawn from it successfully or not. In the
proposed research, the researcher will use the inductive research because of the qualitative
research that will be conducted and help in test the facts and theories that are prevalent regarding
the impact of Covid- 19.
Search strategy: The data will be collected i.e. searched using both primary data collection
method and secondary data collection method. The primary data is that which researcher himself
collects on an individual basis and secondary data on the other hand is data that has already been
researched and published earlier (Phillips and Ritala, 2019). In the proposed research, the
researcher will collect the primary data through sampling method where certain number of
tourism agency employees i.e. 30 will be selected as respondents and then questionnaires will be
distributed to them. The secondary data will also be collected on the basis of the research papers
that are relevant and have been published on the topic of impact on tourism due to Covid- 19.
Geographical focus: The geographical focus determines the area of research that is covered by
the researcher in his study. The proposed research will be based within the geographical
boundaries of Jordan only as the data that needs to be collected is on identifying the impact that
Corona virus pandemic has had on the tourism sector of Jordan (Strielkowski, 2020). Therefore,
the research will also be limited to the tourism companies and agencies that are based in Jordan
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only thus limiting the area covered by the research. This will be the main geographical focus of
the researcher in the proposed research study.
Quality and bias assessment: The quality aspect helps in ensuring that the data that has been
collected and used in the research is relevant and valid contributing accurately in the
development of the research (Shields, 2019). This aspect will be reassured by researcher as only
the tourism agencies of Jordan will be selected so that the realistic data can be obtained on the
impact that this pandemic has had on their sales and the expectations of the tourism agencies.
Further, the bias assessment signifies the chances that any biasness in the study has occurred
whether intentional or not by the researcher. In the research to be undertaken, researcher will
ensure that no intentional biasness occurs in the selection of the sample and further, a consent
form will also be attached where the respondents will clearly state that they have not been biased
or coerced in any manner by the researcher while filling questionnaires.
Expected findings
The research that will be undertaken is done for the purpose of ascertaining that how severely the
tourism industry of Jordan has been affected by the global pandemic that has occurred in the
form of Corona virus and what is the future of such tourism industry in Jordan. The major
expected findings of the research will be:
 The impact that this virus has had on the global tourism scale and operation will be
highlighted so that a global overview can be developed of the direction in which tourism
industry is headed.
 The major findings however will be for the tourism industry of Jordan. The research will
help in ascertaining that the extent to which the downfall of the tourism industry will
occur due to this pandemic, the time that will be required to restructure and strengthen the
fallen tourism industry, the loses that will be incurred to the Jordan’s economy due to
such decline and the actions that can be taken in order to avoid further decline after the
pandemic will be over.
 The next part of the findings would be that what are the major challenges that the tourism
agencies are bound to incur after this pandemic gets over i.e. what psychological,
physical and economical barriers can they face in order to regain the lost tourism market
and redevelop adequate strategies for attracting the touristers.
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 The policies and regulations along with the assistance of the government will also be
identified and analyzed for the tourism industry of Jordan where the problems that
economical burden and other more important industries such as healthcare,
manufacturing etc. will create in developing adequate budgets for the tourism industry
will also be highlighted.
 The next major findings would include the suggestion of appropriate actions that can be
adopted in order to minimize the impact that has been had on the tourism industry i.e.
what best course of actions and strategies can be adopted in the post pandemic scenario
and how can these assist in minimizing the overall losses that the industry can incur.
Therefore, these will be the major findings that will be highlighted through the proposed research
on the tourism of Jordan and the effect that Covid- 19 pandemic will have on this industry.
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REFERENCES
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Cascella, M., and et.al., 2020. Features, evaluation and treatment coronavirus (COVID-19).
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Bintan’s Tourism Sector. RSIS Commentaries. 033-20.
Fallah, B., Krafft, C. and Wahba, J., 2019, May. The impact of hosting refugees on the labour
market. In the forum, ERF Policy Portal, Economic Research Forum.
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Mor, N., 2020. Resources for NGOs During the COVID-19 Epidemic.
Ozili, P.K. and Arun, T., 2020. Spillover of COVID-19: impact on the Global
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Peters, K., Peters, J. and Peters, N., 2020. Visit people Tourism Recovery.
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