The Impact of Covid-19 Outbreak on the Tourism Needs of the Algerian Population

Azzeddine Madani, Saad Eddine Boutebal, Hichem Benhamida () and Christopher Robin Bryant
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Azzeddine Madani: Faculty of social and human sciences, Khemis Miliana University, Thniet El Had, Khemis-Miliana 44225, Algeria
Saad Eddine Boutebal: Faculty of social and human sciences, Khemis Miliana University, Thniet El Had, Khemis-Miliana 44225, Algeria
Christopher Robin Bryant: Department of Geography, University of Montreal, Québec, QC H3T 1J4, Canada

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 21, 1-11

Abstract: This research aims to understand the vision and the reaction of the population towards tourism and holidays during this period of the COVID-19 pandemic. It also investigates the tourist needs of the Algerian population after the closure of international borders. Methods: The data were collected using a mixture of quantitative and qualitative methods through a questionnaire applied to 203 people in different regions of Algeria (a North African country) from 1 June to 13 July 2020. Results: The needs of Algerian tourists were characterized by a great need for leisure to relieve psychological stress caused by COVID-19 (M = 25.33) among the study sample ( p < 0.05). The results also show an average need to rationalize the costs of tourist services (M = 5.26) according to the respondents ( p < 0.01). This is in addition to the great need (M = 7.75) among respondents ( p < 0.05) of the awareness that the tourism sector can contribute to the economic recovery in Algeria after the confinement period. About 75.86% of respondents requested the cleanliness of tourist sites, while 69.95% recommended improving safety because of the size of tourist sites in the Algerian territory as well as measures related to social distancing. The results show that 53.69% of respondents preferred the month of August to go on vacation, 29.06% chose the month of September, and 17.25% would prefer the months of October, November, and December since they expected a reduction in the risks of the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the tourism needs of the Algerian population, which has become increasingly aware of the consequences of the pandemic in relation to their health and in relation to the country’s economy. These results can help the authorities of the tourism sector to better understand and identify the tourism needs of this population in the current period and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords: COVID-19; pandemic; tourism; tourist behavior; tourism sustainability; Algeria (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (9)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:21:p:8856-:d:434516

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