Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://saruna.mnu.edu.mv/jspui/handle/123456789/8566
Title: Experiences and concerns during the COVID 19 pandemic a qualitative research with employees in the tourism sector of the Maldives
Authors: Adam, Aminath Shafiya
Riyaz, Aminath
Mohamed, Shazla
Sobir, Rania
Abdul Muhaimin, Fathimath Nasiha
Sudha, Aminath
Shadiya, Fathimath
Keywords: COVID‑19
Global pandemic
Economic impacts
Tourism employees
Health and safety
Maldive
Issue Date: Aug-2020
Publisher: The Research Centre, Maldives National University
Citation: Adam, A. S., Riyaz, A., Mohamed, S., Sobir, R., Abdul Muhaimin, F. N., Sudha, A. & Shadiya, F.. (2020). Experiences and concerns during the COVID 19 pandemic : a qualitative research with employees in the tourism sector of the Maldives. Maldives National Journal of Research. 8(1), 192-212.
Abstract: The Maldives is a small country, solely, dependent on the tourism sector for its economic growth. The first known case of COVID‑19 in the Maldives was reportedly a tourist from Italy in March 2020. As a result, the government implemented an overseas travel ban. Presumably, the effect of overseas travel ban was inevitable, which resulted in a complete shutdown of resorts. This paper covers a component from a research project conducted March-May 2020, by the Ministry of Economic Development with technical assistance from UNDP, as a rapid livelihood impact assessment of COVID‑19 in the Maldives.The data reported in this paper is concentrated on the qualitative dataset collected to investigate the experiences and concerns of resort employees at the onset of COVID‑19 pandemic. A total of 31 participants across 13 resorts were randomly selected. The data were generated through in-depth interviews which lasted 40-60 minutes either by conference calls or Zoom meetings based on preferred choice of the participants. Detailed notes were made during the conversation and were analysed thematically using the topics from the structured interview guide from the rapid livelihood assessment. The findings highlight the employees’ heightened anxiety about the exposure to COVID‑19 and its possible impact on their health and safety. The findings also highlight the economic impact on the resort workers because of the restrictive pay packages offered by the resorts in dealing with the sudden closure of the resorts in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The findings have useful inputs and implications on future strategic plans of small countries such as the Maldives that depend predominantly on a volatile tourism sector susceptible to external shocks such as the unforeseen COVID‑19 pandemic.
URI: http://saruna.mnu.edu.mv/jspui/handle/123456789/8566
ISSN: 23085959
Appears in Collections:Volume 8, number 1, August 2020



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