Afbeelding
What happens when a region that relies almost entirely on tourism and hospitality comes to a sudden standstill? The COVID-19 pandemic brought Bali - one of the world’s most popular travel destinations - into an unprecedented crisis. But how does a community recover in the long run? This postdoctoral study by Dr Rodney Westerlaken tracks the lasting impact of the pandemic and explores how locals and businesses adapt. What strategies prove effective? What lessons can be learned? And how can the sector be better prepared for the future? The insights from this study will help policymakers, educators, and industry professionals build a more resilient and sustainable tourism sector.
What is the motivation for the project?
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant damage to tourist economies like Bali’s. It has shown how vulnerable employment and the well-being of communities can be. In earlier crises, such as the Bali bombings in 2002 and 2005, the economy recovered relatively quickly, but little is known about how communities adapt in the long term. This research aims to fill that gap by looking at changes in social structures and employment after the pandemic.
In addition, we use the research findings to improve hospitality education. We ensure that students, teachers, and professionals work together on solutions for future crises. By collecting data from 2020 to 2026, we get a better picture of how long the impact of a crisis lasts and how communities adapt. This helps in making better policy choices and sustainable strategies for the future.
What problem does the project solve?
This research addresses four key questions:
How do tourism-dependent communities recover in the long term after a crisis?
How can communities be better prepared for future crises?
How can hospitality education better align with the practice of crisis management?
What strategies are needed to make the hospitality and tourism sector more sustainable?
What is the project approach?
The research uses a Design-Based Research (DBR) methodology combined with longitudinal data collection to analyse resilience in tourism-dependent communities in Bali. Key methods include:
Surveys & interviews: Data collection every six months since 2020 to track economic, social, and psychological changes.
Case studies: Analysis of specific communities and businesses affected by the pandemic.
Stakeholder engagement: Workshops with policymakers, industry leaders, and NGOs to refine strategies.
Trialogical learning: Integrating research findings into hospitality education, where students, teachers, and professionals co-create knowledge.
Comparative analysis: Evaluating the impact of COVID-19 compared to previous crises, such as the 2002 and 2005 Bali bombings.
The results of this research will help in developing strategies and tools to make the hospitality and tourism sector more resilient to crises.
What are the main (or preliminary) results?
The initial findings of the research show that:
Economic recovery is slower than expected, with lasting changes in employment patterns and business models.
Many households have developed different strategies to cope with the situation, ranging from migration to micro-entrepreneurship.
The psychological impact is significant, with many workers experiencing stress and uncertainty about their future.
Community support structures play a crucial role in resilience but are not sufficiently used due to a lack of support from official institutions.
Adding crisis management to hospitality education helps students become better prepared for challenges in the sector.
The final results of this research will provide a framework for crisis resilience, policy recommendations, and educational materials to help tourism-dependent communities be better prepared for the future.
