Changes in Consumption Patterns and Tourist Promotion after the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has entailed an unprecedented health crisis with significant economic impacts in many sectors worldwide. The tourism sector has been one of the most affected, with significant impacts on the number of cancelled reservations, a decrease in international travel and changes in consumption behaviour. This study aims to analyse the main changes in promotion and marketing in the tourism sector in Spain after the pandemic. To this end, a qualitative analysis was carried out via questionnaire-based interviews with 65 experts in the areas of marketing, consumer behaviour and tourism. The main findings show that online information sources gained weight over consulting friends and relatives, and a great advance in digitization is expected, where physical travel agencies will be displaced by online platforms, except for specialized and advisory services. Additionally, technologies such as virtual reality (VR) or artificial intelligence (AI) may play an increasingly important role in the medium term.

Automated summary

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the promotion and marketing of the tourism sector in Spain, leading to changes such as the increased importance of online information sources, accelerated digitization, and the potential role of technologies like virtual reality and artificial intelligence in the future.