CURRENT PROBLEMS AND CURRENT TRENDS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF INTERNATIONAL TOURISM, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE MULTIFACTORIAL IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Abstract

This article is devoted to the study of the state of international tourism in the current epidemiological situation. The study determines the importance of development of the tourism industry in the world, analyzes the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the international tourism industry, and examines the current trends in the sector. It was noted that the regions most vulnerable to changes in the tourism market are Asia and the Pacific (Macau (China), Fiji) and Europe (Spain, Croatia, Montenegro). It was emphasized that the measures taken by many States to support tourism during the pandemic period, such as the introduction of job protection programs, the development of training and retraining schemes aimed at developing new skills important in post-pandemic reality; payments to small and medium-sized enterprises in the tourism industry, their exemption from taxes and fees, etc. It was concluded that the main trends in the tourist market at present are digitalization, individualization of travel, the predominance of local tourism. Priority tasks formulated by the World Tourism Organization are revealed, which should contribute to the restoration of the industry.