Mapping the governmental response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its implications on the hospitality and tourism industry: The case of Turkey

The current COVID-19 pandemic has gained unprecedented scholarly attention across almost all disciplines and hospitality and tourism industry is no exception. Given the persistence of the pandemic, there seems to be much to know about its possible impacts and how countries react to build resilience and help businesses to recover and rest. Drawing on the case of Turkey and focusing on the hospitality and tourism industry, this chapter maps the governmental response to the pandemic in terms of measures taken and restrictions imposed. The chapter begins with a brief description of the key observed and projected impacts of COVID-19 on the hospitality and tourism industry including hotels, airlines, and restaurants. It proceeds with scrutinizing governmental circulars and notices aiming at regulating different aspects of the hospitality and tourism industry. The chapter concludes by reflecting on the governmental strategies to help individuals and businesses cope with the pandemic, Äôs adverse impacts. © Dogan Gursoy, Mehmet Sarıışık, Robin Nunkoo and Erhan Boğan 2021.