ABSTRACT
This chapter examines how the COVID-19 pandemic could influence the acceptance of alternative pathways of post-pandemic tourism development. Under alternatives, this chapter considers not just alternative forms of tourism as a consequence of alternative consumer lifestyles, but also all alternative ways of organizing and conducting tourism businesses. Many of those ways include current efforts to make the tourism industry more sustainable such as alternative sources of energy, circular economy, through to grassroots movements, and mindful leadership. Here, the pandemic is seen as a trigger that could potentially amplify those alternatives through the current course of events. To this end, the chapter explores three scenarios – a first that leaves no room for meaningful inclusion of alternative approaches into the mainstream tourism development; a second that implies the broader adoption of alternatives with a new normal agenda set for tourism; and, a third that explores an idealistic alternate future, where many useful, but currently, alternative pathways are fully embraced in everyday life and thus tourism. In doing so, the chapter pinpoints prominent academic research and practical examples.
