Spatial adaptations in hospitality amid COVID-19: A case study of Xiamen's B&B sector

Despite numerous studies on COVID-19's impact on the global hospitality industry, China's accommodation sector faced uniquely severe challenges due to the Zero-COVID policy, underscoring the need for a detailed quantitative analysis of how the pandemic reshaped the geography of the particularly vulnerable bed and breakfast (B&B) sector. This study employs Xiamen, a renowned tourist destination in China, as a case study to explore the pandemic's effects on the spatial dynamics of new, surviving, and closed B&Bs by comparing data from the 2018–2020 and 2020–2022 periods. Our findings indicate that despite a significant number of closures, the overarching spatial pattern of B&Bs in Xiamen has remained consistent. However, the emergence of new B&Bs has become more scattered, with a notable trend towards the suburbs, suggesting a dual trend of both reliance on and independence from tourist attractions. Moreover, the pandemic has significantly changed the locational preferences of B&Bs, shifting the focus from high-end to more ordinary tourism resources—such as from prioritizing natural amenities to emphasizing social factors.