THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNICATION WITH DOMESTIC TOURISTS IN RECOVERING FROM COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Abstract

At the time of the Covid-19 pandemic, when tourist traffic is falling sharply, domestic tourists become very important. They become the dominant or even the only source of income for tourism sector. This paper shows that due to the closure of countries in order to reduce the possibility of spreading disease, both the number of tourists and the number of overnight stays declined. However, in the summer months and during the holidays, domestic tourists filled capacities and resourceful individuals managed to take advantage of the opportunity that arose by adjusting their offer and/or tourist product. The conducted research is based on statistical data from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia. Given the recovery period of the tourism sector as well as the possibility of new and similar diseases in the future, communication with domestic tourists will become increasingly important, as shown by this research.