COVID-19 and Tourism Small States Centre of Excellence

How can SIDS reimagine tourism to benefit societies, economies, and ecosystems?

COVID-19 is sparring no region and is affecting all sectors of the economy – including tourism. Many populations, especially Small Island Developing States (SIDS), depend on the industry to generate revenue. However, with the partial closure of borders and restrictions being placed on travel, hotels, resorts, and restaurants have begun to suffer. To overcome this challenge posed by COVID-19, the current tourism model needs to be reshaped. By speaking about and exploiting solutions, new opportunities can be created.

About the Webinar

In this webinar, the panelists suggest that COVID-19 has provided a unique opportunity to transform the tourism sector by discussing:

How the pandemic has impacted the tourist industry in SIDS.
How the tourism industry should be reshaped to promote eco-friendly practices.
How people will continue to adopt ‘COVID-proof’ traveling by taking staycations.
How technology and experience are critical to building back better.
How the quality of tourism should be rethought.

Key takeaways

While COVID-19 has brought challenges to the tourism industry, it has also presented opportunities to rebuild better.
Developing durable, global partnerships is key to recovery.
SIDS, in particular, have 3 main opportunities: 1) Activate climate action, 2) Propel blue economies, 3) Catalyze digital transformation.

Watch the Video

Watch panelists discuss the repercussions posed by the COVID-19 pandemic on tourism in SIDS within a local, national, and regional scale in the webinar ‘Small Island Developing States & Tourism: Propelling Resilience Forward’ that was moderated by Patrick Mifsud, First Counsellor for the Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs (Malta) and Gabriella Cassola, Acting Director of the Small States Centre of Excellence (SSCOE).

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/rnjk08g2kszyf5y/AADGN77274ZSbjzTpfKmDWqDa?dl=0

Panelists

Godfrey Baldacchino, Professor of Sociology at the University of Malta; formerly Canada Research Chair and UNESCO Co-Chair in Island Studies at the University of Prince Edward Island, Canada. President, International Small Islands Studies Association (ISISA)
Michel Julian, Senior Officer, Tourism Market Intelligence and Competitiveness Department, United Nations World Tourism Organisation
Riad Meddeb, Senior Principal Advisor for SIDS, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Rosalea Hamilton, former President of MSME Alliance and Chair of the Caribbean Philanthropic Alliance
Naushad Mohamed, Deputy Minister of Tourism of Maldives
Dean Fenton, Director of Tourism for Antigua & Barbuda, USA