Assessing COVID-19's Impact and Recovery Pathways for UK Tourism

This essay examines the profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the UK tourism industry, detailing the background of the pandemic, its definition, and its effects on the UK economy. It highlights the importance of tourism as a major economic sector in the UK, noting its significant contribution to the GDP and employment rates, particularly among young people. The essay discusses the severe decline in tourism activities due to lockdowns and travel restrictions, leading to substantial job losses and economic downturn. It also explores various responses and measures taken by the UK government and industry stakeholders to mitigate the crisis, including financial support and promotional campaigns. Furthermore, the essay outlines potential strategies for the UK tourism industry to recover from the crisis, emphasizing the importance of restoring traveler confidence through effective marketing, implementing safety measures, and fostering innovation and collaboration. The conclusion underscores the need for a sustainable and resilient approach to rebuild the tourism sector in the post-pandemic era, ensuring both public health and economic viability.

Academic Writing in Business
and Management

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
A) Covid19 pandemic issues, its definition, background..........................................................3
B) Importance of tourism as a major sector in the UK...............................................................4
C) Impact of pandemic in UK tourism industry and its responses.............................................5
D) Ways by which UK tourism industry could recover from the crisis......................................6
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
The current pandemic has created a lot of impact over the tourism industry and all over
the world. But in particularly UK the tourism industry has been affected to a great extent. The
current essay will outline the discussion relating to the covid-19 and its background. Along with
is the importance of tourism as a sector with an UK economy will be discussed the full stop in
the end the impact of covid-19 over the tourism industry and its response will be discussed.
MAIN BODY
A) Covid19 pandemic issues, its definition, background
Issues:- Millions of people across the globe go through lock down in March2020 that
effect throughout the economy due to corona virus outbreak. International monetary fund
estimates global economic decline more than 3% in 2020 that will grew 4.9% in 2022. Certain
industries like travel and tourism, hospitality impact directly and spread to various unrelated
activities. Government intervention also to be there during pandemic that helped UK Industry to
rebound.
Definition:- It is a disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus. Covid19 can be severe and
caused various deaths around the globe and it create health problem in many people. As it is to
be spread from one person to another person and to be diagnosed by RT-PCR test. Covid vaccine
is to be authorised for emergencies purposes by US Food and drug administration.
Background:- Covid 19 first case was reported on Dec. 1, 2019, and it has named as
SARC-CoV-2. It was originated from animal change and also caused illness in humans. In the
past years several infectious diseases to be caused by birds, pigs, bats that become dangerous for
humans. A person infected with this disease in fact another person within 10-20 days, it totally
depend upon immune system of other people (Zhang and et.al 2021). Various guidelines is to be
shown to keep necessary precaution. In some of the cases covid19 lead respiratory failure
muscles to be get damaged and people occur some of the nervous system problem that leads to
death. Covid19 to be diagnosed through that is to be done in the laboratory and it is to be treated
at home. And in several other cases people gets hospitalised if found difficulty in breathing and
most of the people loss their life.

B) Importance of tourism as a major sector in the UK
Tourism industry contributes total part in the UK economy. As almost 237 billion British
pounds is to be contributed in the UK economy and overall this number to be fall down in 2020
as covid19 pandemic. During pandemic travel and tourism activity to be declined and business
suffered a lot.
Tourism is an important sector as it impact in the development of Indian economy it
creates income and also generate job opportunity for people. It is the important source of welfare
(Gössling, Scott and Hall, 2020). Government is very much keen to promote tourism as it makes
80% of visitor's economy and in 2019 it generated over 100 billion. Prior to pandemic tourism
contributes 106 billion that supports 3.8 million jobs and these are mostly to be held by young
generation.
Tourism is very much important for almost all the parts of country from Lake District to
Scottish highlands but particularly important to London records almost 30 billion tourists in a
year. In Scotland larger part of highlands rely on tourist sector as it represents 43% of
employment in areas like Cairngorms national park compared with 8% in Scotland overall
Thousands of Londoners work in the UK economy and many of them lost their job because of
pandemic it saw a largest fall from 2019 to 2020 with just 20% of rooms to be occupied in July
2020 compared with 90% in the same month. Mayor Sadiq khan encourage tourist in the city as
the topmost priority launches ambitious new tourism, campaign worth 7million. But the
campaign founds so many controversies and received negative attention online.
Lack of tourism also effect on other sector of the economy especially in the retail,
transport museums and various other sector. These sector totally to be relied upon consumers as
it generates income . Government also taken actions to support tourism activities through various
culture recovery fund this fund awarded with millions of cultural organisations including
national football museums to allow them to survive in the economy (Su and et.al 2021). Thus
pandemic has devastating impact with money, jobs and businesses.
The UK tourism industry is a national asset: As tourism create a economic growth of 74.5
billion represents around 4% of the UK's total gross value. And on an around 4million people
engaged in the jobs and many of them are young people
The UK is a worldwide leading tourism destination: Over 41 million visitors fall under this
category. And UK comes under top 5 countries that is globally for inbound visitors.

UK is attractive to consumers: It always has something to offer to each and everyone. It has
world class museums and other attractive destinations.
C) Impact of pandemic in UK tourism industry and its responses
Travel and tourism industry play a significant role in the overall growth in the United
Kingdom. Due to corona virus pandemic the contribution of travel and tourism experienced
decline and over four million jobs got affected. Tourism depends completely on visitors.
 With respect to the current pandemic the employment level of UK economy specifically
the tourism industry has been affected. Up to 50 million jobs are at stake or risk globally
and so that jobs are getting reduced from 12-14%. Number of people aged 16 to 20 years
saw largest fall in employment between Quarter 3 2019 to Quater3 2020.
 Due to the pandemic there was economic shut down and people were restricted to travel.
Hence, as a result of this international travel is adversely impact (Park and et.al 2020).
With the research it was found that approximately up to 25% and also loss three months’
travel. Further the accommodation service was also affected negatively. Accommodation
and travel agency saw major decline in turnover during lock down falling to 9.3% in May
2020.
Impact on business: Data showed that differing impact on corona virus in various
industries travel and tourism to be fall down in 2020 may. By 26.0% as compared with 73.6% in
other Industries. In every sub industries there was a response to restrict all the restrictions.
Impact on the labour market: The impact of covid19 pandemic can be investigated using
data from Labour Force Survey. It weighted for population estimates that does not reflect to the
impact on corona virus pandemic. On the basis of which analysis to be made that is to be
interpreted and are based on responses.
Responses:
The corona virus pandemic is the humanitarian crisis affecting people’s life. Proper
sanitization system is to be used by UK government at public places and also various welfare
programs is to be conducted and measures to be provided like social distancing is very useful and
wearing mask to be made compulsorily (Jaly and et.al 2020). People should remain at their own
houses if not necessarily don’t go out. Information apps are to be provided to various visitors and
also promotion of various campaigns. More needs have to be done in a particular and

coordinated ways as tourism service are interdependent on each other. It is basically started to
recover in July and strengthen in the second half year.
D) Ways by which UK tourism industry could recover from the crisis
Various measures to be taken to mitigate the pandemic effect on tourism:
By restoring confidence of travellers it can be restored by effective marketing strategies
by using various channels on portals that is to be effective like proper sanitisation and various
marketing campaign to be launched understanding of new market trends. By publishing four step
roadmap that eases restrictions and also provide a route for normal way of life. And establishing
a program that consider various steps that how to deal with Covid 19 pandemic with safety and
sustainability.
Committing to build more of resilient and inclusive of tourism sector and leverage of
renewed interest rate that brings sustainability and taking green, resilient and inclusive
development plan as an approach as it encourages to see numerous ideas that reflect discussions.
Recovery programs require innovation and collaborations although consider as far from over and
also plan to rebuild it.
The tourism sector to be recovered only when it opens with safety and profitability as this
is the first and foremost thing to be followed upon it is necessary to safeguard with public health
and impacts on the ability of business. Global travel taskforce report is to be implemented in
promoting safeguard (Jarvis and et.al 2020). A second Global taskforce report is also to be
published in April2020. The speed of vaccines gives hope that UK can get back and enjoy its
tourism activities without any restrictions. Recovery plan for all the tourist visiting in UK
focuses majorly upon rebuilding tourism locations that is to be more sustainable and create jobs
in rebuilding and enhancing attractions.
CONCLUSION
In the end it is concluded that the pandemic has created a lot of impact over the world and
the whole economy. This is particularly because of the reason that there was economic shutdown
and as a result of this the working of the tourism industry has also been attracted to a great
extent. It was evaluated that the employment was affected to a great extent and unemployment
increased higher.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Gössling, S., Scott, D. and Hall, C. M., 2020. Pandemics, tourism and global change: a rapid
assessment of COVID-19. Journal of sustainable tourism.29(1). pp.1-20.
Jaly, I., and et.al 2020. Redefining diabetic foot disease management service during COVID-19
pandemic. Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research & Reviews. 14(5).
pp.833-838.
Jarvis, C. ., and et.al 2020. Quantifying the impact of physical distance measures on the
transmission of COVID-19 in the UK. BMC medicine. 18(1). pp.1-10.
Park, C., and et.al 2020. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on orthopedic trauma workload in a
London level 1 trauma center: the “golden month” The COVid Emergency Related
Trauma and orthopaedics (COVERT) Collaborative. Acta orthopaedica.91(5).pp.556-
561.
Su, C. W., and et.al 2021. COVID-19 pandemic and unemployment dynamics in European
economies. Economic Research-Ekonomska Istraživanja. pp.1-13.
Zhang, H., and et.al 2021. Forecasting tourism recovery amid COVID-19. Annals of Tourism
Research. 87. p.103149.