The COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on tourist destinations

Approach to the case analysis of the municipality of Sanxenxo

Abstract

Tourist activity is the determining factor of economic-territorial development in the municipality of Sanxenxo. Sanxenxo is a mature coastal tourist destination located in the Galician Rías Baixas. The COVID-19 socio-sanitary crisis has had obvious implications for the tourism sector. The coastal tourism product has been one of the most affected in its short-term results. A sudden crisis that should not hide the need to carry out reforms in the tourist destination. A destination that already showed some imbalances: lack of an updated strategy that would favor the correct interrelation between the offer of tourist products with the new megatrends within the demand. Sanxenxo, like other tourist destinations, implemented measures and campaigns to alleviate the crisis and promote the recovery of the sector. In this research work, using both a qualitative and quantitative methodology, we will address the analysis of the main actions undertaken by regional and municipal tourism management in order to deal with the consequences of Covid-19. We will also propose proactive lines of action that could be implemented in the medium and long term to deal with the more lasting negative impacts on the tourism sector generated by the pandemic. In this direction, we propose territorial actions, from the paradigm of sustainability and the perspective of governance.