Tourism is not only affected by pandemics and epidemics but also contributes to their spread, affecting not only tourists but also the communities in their destinations. The COVID-19 pandemic brought about a new crisis, challenging the travel industry more than ever before. Several studies have suggested that there will be long-term severe effects that could continue for an unspecified period of time across the world, both medically, socially and economically. Pandemics and Travel: COVID-19 Impacts in the Tourism Industry analyses the wider impacts of epidemics, diseases and virus outbreaks on tourism and mobility. Chapters examine a wide range of interrelated issues, including the concept of Health Risk and Tourism, the impacts of the recent COVID-19 crisis on tourism activity in several countries, and considers new challenges that the tourism industry will face in the post-COVID era. This book is essential reading for researchers seeking to understand the ongoing effects of pandemics on travel, tourism, hospitality and health industries.

The tourism industry is dynamic, constantly changing, and is particularly sensitive to shocks and external factors that are beyond the control of managers. Terrorism and natural disasters are just two of the current risk factors for western-based tourists seeking increasingly 'exotic' locations. What can individuals do to mitigate these risks? What are the responsibilities of tour operators to manage these risks? And what is the global impact on the tourism industry? This collection of chapters from international scholars answer these questions using a wide range of interdisciplinary methods. They shed new light on emerging issues around sustainability, ecology and dark tourism. The concluding chapter speculates what the future holds for the industry as a whole, after years of disruption and potentially increased risks from climate change and political upheaval in different regions. The series features monographs and edited collections to create a critical platform which not only explores the dichotomies of tourism from the theory of mobilities, but also provides an insightful guide for policy makers, specialists and social scientists interested in the future of tourism in a society where uncertainness, anxiety and fear prevail.