Tourism and Air Quality during COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons for the Future

Alexandra Monteiro, Celeste Eusébio, Maria João Carneiro, Mara Madaleno, Margarita Robaina, Vitor Rodrigues, Carla Gama, Hélder Relvas, Michael Russo, Kevin Oliveira, Myriam Lopes and Carlos Borrego
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Alexandra Monteiro: CESAM & Department of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
Celeste Eusébio: GOVCOPP & Department of Economics, Management, Industrial Engineering and Tourism, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
Maria João Carneiro: GOVCOPP & Department of Economics, Management, Industrial Engineering and Tourism, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
Mara Madaleno: GOVCOPP & Department of Economics, Management, Industrial Engineering and Tourism, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
Margarita Robaina: GOVCOPP & Department of Economics, Management, Industrial Engineering and Tourism, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
Vitor Rodrigues: GOVCOPP & Department of Economics, Management, Industrial Engineering and Tourism, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
Carla Gama: CESAM & Department of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
Hélder Relvas: CESAM & Department of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
Michael Russo: CESAM & Department of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
Kevin Oliveira: CESAM & Department of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
Myriam Lopes: CESAM & Department of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
Carlos Borrego: CESAM & Department of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 7, 1-22

Abstract: The pandemic caused by coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (associated to the disease named COVID-19) is having a global impact that affects health, the economy and the environment. These impacts are negative in most of the sectors but benefits also occurred in specific fields. Tourism was one of the most negatively affected economic sectors, and in terms of benefits, the improvement of air quality can be highlighted, with positive health implications. This paper aims to evaluate the impacts on these two particular fields—tourism and air quality—focusing on Portugal due to the relevance of tourism in the country. The research carried out in this paper enables us to find the most critical areas and identifies lessons learnt and recommendations for the post-COVID period. Tourism and air quality data were collected for both 2019 and 2020 and compared in terms of quantitative and spatial analysis. The Lisbon metropolitan area—the geographical area where the capital of the country is located—was the area that suffered the most negative impacts in terms of tourism activity but was also the one where highest benefits in terms of air pollution reduction and human exposure were felt. Recommendations for future strategies are suggested, including new concepts of tourism connected to the environment; the investment in online/virtual tourism activities; promotion of the domestic market; mitigation of the over-tourism problem and using environmental issues, such as air quality, as new attractiveness criteria for tourism destinations.

Keywords: COVID-19; air pollution; tourism; health Portugal; future recommendations (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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