How a Tourism City Responds to COVID-19: A CEE Perspective (Kraków Case Study)

Joanna Kowalczyk-Anioł, Marek Grochowicz and Robert Pawlusiński
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Joanna Kowalczyk-Anioł: Institute of Urban Geography, Tourism Studies and Geoinformation, Faculty of Geographical Sciences, University of Lodz, 90-136 Łódź, Poland
Marek Grochowicz: Institute of Urban and Regional Development, 03-728 Warszawa, Poland
Robert Pawlusiński: Institute of Geography and Spatial Management, Faculty of Geography and Geology, Jagiellonian University, 31-007 Kraków, Poland

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 14, 1-22

Abstract: Academic papers on the COVID-19 pandemic and tourism adopt the perspective of strengthening tourism resilience or recognize the ongoing crisis as an opportunity for reflection and the need to redefine tourism development strategies. This article examines these issues using the example of Kraków, a tourism city that, on the eve of the pandemic outbreak, was experiencing symptoms of overtourism. Using a case study approach, the authors illustrate the strategies applied at the city level, as well as the range of measures and actions used to support the tourism industry during the full pandemic year. The Kraków case shows that the pandemic time can be used to reorganize relations between local tourism stakeholders and to create a new formula for a tourism city in the so-called ‘new normal’. In addition, the exploratory case study allows for the formulation of research problems for further work on tourism cities responses to COVID-19. This can focus on a revision of the tourist offer and profile; the role of culture and the accompanying technology-facilitated innovations; the continuation of ‘being-a-tourist-in-your-own-city’, as promoted in the pandemic; tourists’ reactions to introduced changes; and shaping (new) relations between tourism stakeholders in the (post)pandemic city.

Keywords: COVID-19; urban tourism; heritage city; tourism recovery; Kraków; Poland (CEE) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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