Post-covid recovery of the meetings industry in the Republic of Serbia
Keywords:
meetings industry, Covid-19, recovery
Abstract
The meetings industry is one of the fastest developing segment of the tourism market and inevitable component of performances achieved on the destination level. The Covid-19 crisis has transformed the way this industry operates, leading to new ways of holding meetings. The aim of the paper is to analyze the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on meetings’ industry performances of the Republic of Serbia, as well as its post-covid recovery in this country. The results of the analysis showed a decrease in the meetings held in pandemic years, but also a recovery in 2022. Results also showed that holding virtual meetings became the new normal. Moreover, online meetings were the foundation for developing novel approaches for the new future of the meetings industry and special event management.
References
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Alananzeh, O., Al-Badarneh, M., Al-Mkhadmeh, A., Jawabreh, O. (2019) Factors influencing MICE tourism stakeholders’ decision making: The case of Aqaba in Jordan, Journal of Convention & Event Tourism, 20(1), 24-43. https://doi.org/10.1080/15470148.2018.1526152
Barjaktarović, D. (2022) Tourism in post-covid conditions, E-hotel link, 2, pp. 110-120
Bernini, C. (2009) Convention industry & destination clusters: Evidence from Italy, Tourism Management, 30(6), 878-889. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2008.12.004
Bogdanović, A. J., Pajić, S., Janković, M. (2021) The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tourism in Europe. Proceedings Law, Economy and Management in Modern Ambience LEMiMA 2021, 2, 247-258. http://doi.fil.bg.ac.rs/pdf/journals/ecologica/2021-101/ecologica-2021-28-101-17.pdf
Braun, B. M. (1992) The economic contribution of conventions: The case of Orlando, Florida, Journal of Travel Research, 30(3), 32-37. https://doi.org/10.1177/004728759203000305
Bueno, A. R., Urbistondo, P. A., Martínez, B. A. (2020) The MICE tourism value chain: Proposal of a conceptual framework and analysis of disintermediation, Journal of Convention & Event Tourism, 21(3), 177-200. https://doi.org/10.1080/15470148.2020.1740851
Center for European Policies (2020). Effects of economic mitigation measures negative consequences Covid-19 on the economy. Naled, Belgrade. Retrieved from: https://naled.rs/htdocs/Files/06839/Analiza_efekata_ekonomskih_mera_za_ublazavanje_negativnih_posledica_COVID-19_na_privredu.pdf
Disimulacion, M.A.T. (2020) MICE tourism during COVID-19 and future directions for the new normal, Asia Pacific International Events Management Journal, 1(2), 11-17
Dupeyras, A., Haxton, P., Stacey, J. (2020). The Covid-19 crisis and tourism: Response and recovery measures to support the tourism sector in OECD countries, Global Health and Covid-19. Task force, 11
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Institute for Public Health “Dr. Milan Jovanović Batut” (2024). Recommendations: how to protect yourself. Retrieved from: https://www.batut.org.rs/index.php?content=2070
Katsoni, V., Kavoura, A., (2013) The use of content Analysis on Hotels’ websites as communication Tools. Third International Conference: Quantitative and Qualitative Methodologies in the Economic and Administrative Sciences (QMEAS), Athens, Greece, 443-448
Lee, J.M., Back, K.J. (2005) A review of economic value drivers in convention and meeting management research, International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 17(5), 409-420. https://doi.org/10.1108/09596110510604832
Lekgau, R. J., Tichaawa, T. M. (2021) MICE tourism policy and strategy responses in managing the impact of COVID-19 pandemic, African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure, 10(6), 1997-2012
Marjanović, D., Đukić, M. (2020) Economic measures to mitigate the consequences of COVID-19. In Black swan in the world economy 2020, Belgrade: Institute of Economic Sciences, 91-105
Mykletun, R.J., Bartkeviciute, M., Puchkova, Y. (2014) Green meetings – Do they matter to their closest stakeholders? Scandinavian Journal of Hospitality and Tourism, 14(3), 211-233. https://doi.org/10.1080/15022250.2014.946229
Official Gazette RS. (2020-2022) Regulation on measures to prevent and suppress the infectious disease Covid-19 No. 151/2020, 152/2020, 153/2020, 156/2020, 158/2020, 1/2021, 17/2021, 19/2021, 22/2021, 29/2021, 34/2021, 48/2021, 54/2021, 59/2021, 60/2021, 64/2021, 69/2021, 86/2021, 95/2021, 99/2021, 101/2021, 105/2021, 108/2021 and 117/2021. retrieved from:
https://www.paragraf.rs/propisi/uredba-o-merama-za-sprecavanje-sirenja-zaraznebolesti-covid-19.html
Park, E., Boo, S. (2010) An assessment of convention tourism's potential contribution to environmentally sustainable growth. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 18(1), 95-113. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669580903147936
Porpiglia, F., Checcucci, E., Autorino, R., Amparore, D., Cooperberg, M.R., Ficarra, V., Novara, G. (2020) Traditional and virtual congress meetings during the COVID-19 pandemic and the post-COVID-19 era: is it time to change the paradigm? European urology, 78(3), 301-303. https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.eururo.2020.04.018
Radić, N., Radić, V., Stevanović, M. (2021) Economic effects of the corona virus pandemic on tourism and catering, Megatrend Review, 18(3), 1-19
Ritchie, J.B., Goeldner, C.R. (1994) Travel, Tourism and Hospitality Research. A Handbook for Managers and Researchers. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Rudnicki, M., Borodako, K. (2023) Air transport accessibility in business tourism destinations in the COVID-19 pandemic – A Central and Eastern Europe perspective, Hotel and Tourism Management, 11(1), 9-23. https://doi.org/10.5937/menhottur2301009R
Rwigema, P.C. (2020) Impact of Covid-19 pandemic to Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism in Rwanda, The Strategic Journal of Business & Change Management, 7(3), 395-409
Serbia Convention Bureau (2023). https://www.scb.travel/
Spiller, J. (2002). History of convention tourism. In K. Weber & K. Chon (Eds.), Convention Tourism: International Research and Industry Perspectives, Binghampton, NY: Haworth, 3-20
Stevanović, S., Marinković, G. (2021) Financial performance of companies in the tourism sector of Serbia in the conditions of COVID-19. In: Business during the pandemic period, Belgrade: Institute of Economic Sciences, 109-129
UIA (2021) International Meetings Statistics Report, 62nd Edition – June 2021, Comparative tables on the international meetings of international organizations, Retrieved from: https://uia.org/sites/uia.org/files/misc_pdfs/pubs/Look_Inside_UIA_Statistics_Report_ed_62.pdf
UNWTO (2020) Covid-19 tourism recovery technical tourism package. Retrieved from: https://webunwto.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/2020-05/COVID-19-Tourism-Recovery-TA-Package_8%20May-2020.pdf
UNWTO (2021) World Tourism Barometer, Statistical Annex, 19(3). Madrid: UNWTO
UNWTO (2022) UNWTO Tourism Data Dashboard.R retrived from: https://www.unwto.org/tourism-data/unwto-tourism-dashboard
Valenti A., Fortuna G., Barillari C., Cannone E., Boccuni V., Iavicoli S. (2021) The future of scientific conferences in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic: Critical analysis and future perspectives, Industrial Health, 59(5), 334-339, https://doi.org/10.2486/indhealth.2021-0102
Villacé-Molinero, T., Fernández-Muñoz, J.J., Orea-Giner, A., Fuentes-Moraleda, L. (2021). Understanding the new post-COVID-19 risk scenario: Outlooks and challenges for a new era of tourism, Tourism Management, 86, 104324. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2021.104324
Walas, B., Nocoń, M., Nemethy, S., Petrovič, F., Oleksa-Kaźmierczak, A. (2021) Diagnosis of competencies in the meetings industry in Poland, Hungary and Ireland in post-COVID-19 period, Problems and Perspectives in Management, 19(4), 198-212. http://dx.doi.org/10.21511/ppm.19(4).2021.17
Weber, K., Ladkin, A. (2003) The convention industry in Australia and the United Kingdom: key issues and competitive forces, Journal of Travel Research, 42(2), 125-132. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287503257489
WTTC (2019). Tourism economic impact. London: WTTC
WTTC. (2021). Tourism economic impact. London: WTTC
Wu, J., Rajesh, A., Huang, Y. N., Chhugani, K., Acharya, R., Peng, K., Mangul, S. (2022) Virtual meetings promise to eliminate geographical and administrative barriers and increase accessibility, diversity and inclusivity, Nature Biotechnology, 40(1), 133-137
Wu, L.-F., Achyldurdyyeva, J., Jou, W.-P., Foung, W.-T., & Jaw, B.-S. (2021) Relief, Recovery, and Revitalization Measures for Tourism and Hospitality Industry During Covid-19 Pandemic: Case Study from Taiwan, SAGE Open, 11(3). https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440211040805
Zeithaml, V.A., Parasuraman, A., Berry, L.L. (1990) Delivering Quality Service: Balancing Customer Perceptions and Expectations. New York: The Free Press
Zhylenko, K. M., Khalatur, S.M., Pavlenko, O. P., Pavlenko, O. S. (2022) Formation of macroeconomic indicators under the influence of MICE-tourism, Academy review, 2(57), 249-266. https://doi.org/10.32342/2074-5354-2022-2-57-19