The Gaze Journal of Tourism and Hospitality (2021) 12:1, 23-43 THE GAZE JOURNAL OF TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY Th e Impact of COVID-19 on Tourism: A Case Study of Lumbini, Nepal Bhim Bahadur Kunwar Lecturer, Lumbini Buddhist University, Lumbini
[email protected] Article History Abstract Received 31 August 2020 Accepted 18 October 2020 Th is research aims to discover and present the impacts of COVID-19 in tourism in the context of Lumbini and its premises. As COVID-19 spread globally, it has created many challenges in health and security, daily lives, the national economy, and the global tourism industry. Th e COVID- 19 outbreak has been considered as the most challenging tragedy that occurred in the world aft er the 2nd world war. Keywords Th e World Health Organization (WHO) had listed Nepal also COVID-19, tourism, as a country with a high-risk zone of COVID-19.Th e travel Lumbini - Nepal, restriction and nationwide lock-down implemented by many insecurity, impacts countries including Nepal have resulted in a stranded traveler’s movement. As the consequences ticket reservation, fl ight services, transportation, hotel, and restaurants were closed and several job losses were registered in the tourism sector. Th e negative eff ects like fear, threat, frustration, and losing the confi dence of tourism entrepreneurs appeared. Th is has brought changes in the tourists’ behavior and their motivation to travel for the next few years. In Lumbini businesses like Corresponding Editor Ramesh Raj Kunwar lodges, hotels, restaurants, and travel offi ces were also severely
[email protected] aff ected by the pandemic.