An Analysis of Residents’ Affinity for Tourism and Tourists During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Barbadian Experience

Abstract

Residents’ attitude towards tourism is regarded as a vital pillar in the development of a sustainable destination. While many studies have investigated residents’ attitudes in more mature destinations to gauge the extent of buy-in, alienation, antagonism, and so on, very few have done so in situations where there is an epidemic or pandemic. It is argued that this type of assessment is even more crucial in tourism dependent economies, such as Barbados, that have had to quickly reconcile the tension between foreign exchange earnings and the health and safety of residents. Drawing upon social exchange and integrated threat theories, this chapter examines Barbadian residents’ attitudes towards tourism and tourists during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study employed an online survey which targeted Barbadian residents over the age of 18 years old. The findings reveal that residents’ affinity for tourism and tourists has changed due to the health threat of the COVID-19 pandemic; however, they were still supportive of the industry due to the potential benefits it can offer.