Challenges of Crisis Management in Tourism and Lessons Learned from the Experiences of Ministers of State in Brazil

Abstract:

Considering the impact that the tourism activity suffers, due to political, social and health problems (such as the Covid-19 pandemic), studying crisis management in tourism becomes a relevant and necessary theme. The objective of this research was to understand the experiences of former Tourism Ministers in Brazil in crisis management during their leadership, and as a specific objective to identify the existence of an action plan for crises. The research was exploratory and descriptive in nature, a narrative literature review was carried out, and the technique of thematic content analysis was adopted, based on the theoretical referential about crisis management and public management. Twelve former mayors were interviewed, presenting their perceptions about crisis management actions and protocols, reduction of impacts on tourism, and post-crisis paths from 2020-2021. Their results suggest that one should invest in research and actions to improve and instrument the Ministry of Tourism, prioritizing theories of prevention and preparation for crises; elaborate risk communication protocols for the tourist trade; promote educational and training actions in crisis management for stackholders; develop studies on crises, systematizing learnings; capture and analyze updated information from the tourist market (including through digital media); adopt institutional mechanisms for preventing political crises. The literature review pointed out that, worldwide, public managers felt insecure about the actions taken during the Covid-19 crisis, given the scarcity of previous references, culminating in the intensity of the negative impacts of the pandemic on their sectors. It is considered that the actions of the federal public authorities should include resilience strategies and reflection on institutional and organizational impacts for social well-being and recovery in the post-pandemic period.

Keywords:
Tourism; Crisis management; Public policies; Tourism ministers