Tourism and COVID-19: Socioeconomic and environmental problems in Ecuador

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in over 62.5 million confirmed cases and more than 1.5 million deaths worldwide. It has triggered an impending economic crisis and recession. Social distancing, self-isolation, and travel restrictions have reduced the workforce across all sectors of the economy and led to widespread job losses. The COVID-19 crisis presents a critical moment to align efforts to sustain tourism-dependent livelihoods with a more resilient, inclusive, carbon-neutral, and resource-efficient future. The pandemic has compelled the tourism sector to prioritize sustainability and green growth to transform into a resilient, competitive, resource-efficient, and carbon-neutral tourism industry. Green investments for recovery could target protected areas, renewable energy, smart buildings, and the circular economy, among other opportunities.