The structural changes of a local tourism network: comparison of before and after COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused dramatic changes on a global scale. According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (2020), the restricted movement that has arisen from the pandemic is expected to reduce the national tourist market to 180 million visitors, a 44% decrease from 2019. Subsequently, alternative tourist activities have been promoted to satisfy the suppressed demand. This study examined the structural changes of a local tourism network focusing on Gangwon Province, in the Republic of Korea, which has experienced a rise in tourist demand following the COVID-19 outbreak. This study composed a matrix using the movement patterns of tourists who visited Gangwon Province during corresponding periods before and after the outbreak and then conducted a network analysis. The results demonstrated that as tourists travelled, they focused their movements on local areas and simplified travel routes. Moreover, our findings revealed that the demand for tourism was concentrated on beaches, which previously tended towards a low tourism density. As COVID-19 is expected to become a pervasive reality for the foreseeable future, this empirical study on the corresponding changes in tourist behaviour has implications regarding the tourism industry’s direction.