Tour guides’ dilemma under the pandemic: to stay or not to stay? An investigation of occupational loyalty among tour guides in Macao

COVID-19 has struck the tourism industry and its professions with unprecedented severity. The tour guides are among the most impacted group in the industry, with many now facing the dilemma of whether to remain guides or switch to other professions. This study aims to identify the mitigators that keep tour guides from switching to other professions. It also provides insights regarding their current situation and how they cope with the unexpected adversity. Data are mainly collected via in-depth interviews in Macao and analyzed thematically. The findings contribute to the scholarly knowledge of occupational commitment via the lens of mitigating factors.