Resilience and Rebuilding Strategy for Tourism Industry from Covid-19 Pandemic - An Indian Perspective

Purpose – The worldwide Coronavirus (COVID-19) is shaking up the Global tourism industry. The need of the hour is to take early and appropriate measures to overcome the slowdown in tourism industry by analyzing its long term impacts. In this context, the purpose of this study is to identify the impact of covid-19 pandemic on Indian tourism and travel industry to resurrect the same during covid-19 pandemic. The study also explores to formulate a strategic framework to reinstate and rejuvenate the tourism industry during and post covid-19 pandemic by emphasizing on global travel regulations and health prerequisites for domestic and international travelers. Design /Methodology/approach –The study is descriptive and exploratory in nature and based upon Qualitative research approach. To address the issue, the sources of data collection embraced are both primary and secondary data. Opinion of and discussion with tourism professionals  and extensive review of literature was done in order to identify present and future Scenario of global tourism industry due to ongoing pandemic. Findings – The study reveals that the international tourism will experience some complications in resurrection but does not mean that it has been collapsed completely. As the study discusses and emphasizes on resilience and rebuilding of tourism sector by categorizing global tourism phenomena into two phases i.e. tourism scenario during covid-19 pandemic and tourism scenario in post covid-19 pandemic, the study finds that ‘Domestic Tourism’ to be promoted first during pandemic by emphasizing on pilgrimage tourism and promotion of volunteer tourism with regulated norms with in the country. The study also reveals about other strategic measures to promote tourism post covid-19 pandemic with regulated travel procedures, framework, international travel policy and medical kiosk along with health prerequisites for safe and secure international traveling post pandemic global scenario. Originality/Value- The study comes out with a new idea stressing on Voluntourism aiming to support responsible travel pattern to bring sustainability in global society by volunteering to help needy in pandemic affected regions in return to gain positive travel experiences The study has developed and suggested a 3S (SSS) Model  that will provide valuable insight and guidelines for the central government, state governments and other stakeholders in developing recovery strategy so to minimize the harms of the COVID-19 pandemic on Indian tourism. The relevance of discontinuity theory of immunity is also discussed to deal with the issue.