The effects of COVID-19 on social enterprise tourism initiatives: a multiple case study approach of the global south

Abstract

Studies about the effects of COVID-19 on tourism related activities are well developed; however, there are limited studies about the effects of COVID on social enterprise touristic activities. This paper aims to contribute to the existing studies about this phenomenon using a multiple case study approach with case studies from the Global South, specifically, from Vietnam, Cambodia, Palestine, Ecuador and Colombia. Considering qualitative research techniques, a multiple case study approach that included online semi-structured interviews and a focus group was used. Online interviews and a focus group were carried out with the tourism initiatives (n = 5) determined by the purposeful sampling method. Several aspects emerged from the findings: how COVID-19 affected SE tourism businesses, the expectations of tourist mobility, the anxiety of founders related to tourism, preparation and training for COVID-19, and alternatives to the current services provided. The paper concludes with recommendations for future research into the effects of COVID-19 on touristic social enterprise initiatives in the Global South and North.