Resilience model for a destination support: Pattaya, Thailand

Area of Science:

• Tourism Management
• Sustainable Development
• Economic Resilience

Background:

• The Covid-19 pandemic caused significant disruption to the global tourism sector.
• Pattaya, a major Thai tourist destination, faced severe economic stagnation due to lockdowns and restrictions.
• The pandemic highlighted vulnerabilities in the tourism supply chain.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the resilience of Pattaya's tourism sector during the Covid-19 pandemic.
• To analyze the challenges and strategies for post-pandemic tourism recovery in Pattaya.
• To understand the impact on local entrepreneurs and businesses.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative research approach.
• In-depth interviews with diverse public and private stakeholders in Pattaya's tourism industry.
• Utilized the conceptual framework on economic resilience and tourism recovery by McCartney et al. (2021).

Main Results:

• The tourism industry in Pattaya experienced adverse effects, mirroring other economic sectors.
• Inadequate and slow strategy implementation hindered coping with pandemic-induced uncertainty.
• Local entrepreneurs reported a need for more defined and supportive reopening measures.

Conclusions:

• Pattaya's tourism sector demonstrated vulnerability to the pandemic's economic shocks.
• Effective recovery requires clearer, supportive government and organizational strategies.
• Enhanced resilience and sustainable development are crucial for future tourism viability.