Identificando os impactos da pandemia de Covid-19: o caso da Acauã Viagens e Turismo - Santa Cruz/RN

Abstract

Tourism is a multifaceted activity that involves a wide range of sectors, such as economic, social, and political, among others. From then on, this phenomenon also exposes the flaws in each sector, responding to crises according to the time of year, whether they are caused by social revolutions, instability in politics, disease breakouts, or meteorological events. The most recent example is the global COVID-19 pandemic, which has affected all industries and, as a result, tourist activity. Thus, due to its characteristics, this industry was one of the most negatively impacted, and the travel agency, which is a characteristic activity of tourism, was no different. The government-imposed health restrictions and border closures made it impossible for people to move about. And without this fundamental element, it resulted in high unemployment rates. Therefore, the main objective of the present study is to examine how the COVID-19 pandemic may affect the travel business of Acauã Viagens e Turismo between 2020 and 2022. Using a methodological approach that included the analysis of a specific case, a qualitative research with exploratory and descriptive features was conducted between 2022 and 2023 on websites, scientific journals, and books with bibliographical and electronic reviews. This analysis focused on the travel agency mentioned, which is located in Santa Cruz, RN. The "Explanatory Model of the Impact of COVID-19 on the Tourism Sector'' by the authors Garcez, Franco, and Correia (2021) served as the basis for the interview script. The findings show that with the help of the company's staff, they were able to move the agency's operation, taking part in training and setting up new services, as an alternative and nearby tourism route, as well as having government support from the federal government and using technological tools to get around the crisis.