Chaos theory perspective on tourism crisis management: A case study of the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea

The global tourism industry has been significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, underscoring the importance of innovative crisis management. Traditional crisis management approaches based on the generalized assumption of linearity fail to account for the complex and chaotic nature of tourism crises and systems. Chaos theory, well-known for its ability to manage unpredictable events and facilitate the emergence of new orders, provides a useful framework for tourism crisis management. Thus, this study aims to investigate the application of chaos theory principles to crisis management during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea. This study provides a synthesis of theoretical perspectives and practical examples with significant implications for tourism crisis management, emphasizing the importance of flexibility, adaptability, and collaboration. Overall, this study contributes to the theoretical discourse on tourism crisis management and provides practical guidance for industry stakeholders to navigate potential future crises effectively.