Crisis Management of Hungarian Tourist Attractions Before and During the Coronavirus crisis

Abstract

The aim of the study is to examine how the crisis management of tourist attraction sites evolved before and during the coronavirus epidemic. Eighty-seven in-depth interviews were conducted with managers responsible for crisis management of attraction sites, examining the stages of preparation and response regarding the perception of the crisis, setting up a crisis plan and crisis team, defining priorities and measures during the coronavirus pandemic, and the lessons learned. Results have demonstrated that most had neither a crisis management plan nor experience gained from previous crises. Most of the enterprises set up a business management team consisting of managers, which then defined the retention of the workforce as a primary priority, while the steps that were taken mainly related to working from home and the use of public wage subsidies, as well as a rethinking of communication.