| dc.description.abstract | With the new coronavirus pandemic causing severely hit the tourism industry, and the threat of infection virus and the mobility of tourists’ travel cannot coexist. Consequently, the closure of borders and travel bans worldwide have forced travel companies to cease operations. Furthermore, most travel companies are small and medium-sized enterprises, they significantly affect the sustainability of the industry. This research has several practical implications. Indeed, many previous research literatures responding of the tourism industry have been published. However, a micro-perspective on a single industry is lacking. The purpose of this research is to address the decision-making method of travel companies′ operational predicaments in the post-COVID-19 era. The research adopts a hybrid method, specifically in-depth interviews of experts for a qualitative approach and a Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) and Analytical Network Process (ANP) questionnaire survey among experts for a quantitative approach. Taiwan travel companies are used a research background, and 18 senior management from travel companies. Three constructs, six criteria factors, and one key criteria factor were produced, and a causal diagram was drawn to clarify the relationship among the criteria factors.
Results indicate that mandatory insurance protocol is the key criteria factor in solving international travel. It is also the most significant criteria factor of travel companies to make immediate decision-making; when a travel company is impacted by the pandemic, the mandatory insurance protocol will solve the operational predicament. The study found that the safety management strategy criteria factor, which does not affect other criteria factors, which means the travel companies cannot effectively implement this criteria factor to solve the predicament, and obviating the implementation of this criteria factor is necessary. Finally, vaccine policy is related to the feasibility of vaccine passports, however, this criteria factor cannot be effectively implemented yet. Vaccine policy involves international relations, political issues, and other factors, which affect the fairness and universality of vaccination. The DANP analysis, the most important construct is Health of hygiene, the significant criteria factor is Vaccine policy. This is a significant outcome of research.
This article also provides research literature and practical implications for decision-makers in the travel industry. The insights are intended to equip them with knowledge on how to prepare for sustainable development. | en_US |