Clouds in the normally sunny sky? The effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on Dutch lifestyle entrepreneurs in the Algarve

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article explores the experiences of Dutch B&B and short-term rental property owners in the rural Algarve, Portugal, as a case study on the economic and social consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic for entrepreneurial lifestyle migrants. The empirical data comes from twelve in-depth interviews with Dutch lifestyle migrants who moved to and settled in the more rural areas of the eastern Algarve and started small tourism accommodation businesses. Specifically, we look at the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting measures and restrictions on the economic situation of the businesses, the health and wellbeing of the business owners and their guests, as well as their accounts of social solidarity and community support. The findings reveal that there were relatively few changes in the lifestyles of the respondents and that their businesses, whilst impacted by the dramatic effects of the pandemic on travel and tourism, remained afloat. The findings confirm both the relative privilege of lifestyle migrant entrepreneurs, and the unequal impacts of the global pandemic. Their resilience to disaster is positively connected to their embeddedness in different networks. Finally, the rural location of the properties was also found to be instrumental in facing the pandemic in several ways.