COVID-19 Pandemic and Tourism of Meghalaya: Socio-economic Impact and Mitigation Measures

The covid-19 pandemic caused a major downturn in tourism thereby underlining the need for mitigation measures from the perspective of small businesses. The mitigation measures presented in this book are significant as they can act as a guide in tackling any future possible downturns/uncertainties. The book starts with an assessment of the impact of covid-19 pandemic on the tourism by applying a quasi-experimental research technique called propensity score analysis. The assessment covers the pre-pandemic period till the year mid-2022. The mitigation measures derived include propensity to save, self confidence, etc which helps in shaping a resilient business which is critical for business operations, management, returns and continuity.

Dr. Benjamin F. Lyngdoh did his graduation and master in commerce and Ph.D. in the area of development studies on a topic concerning microfinance and women empowerment. He has a professional experience of more than 17 years in teaching finance, management, economics, human resources, marketing, entrepreneurship, tourism, development studies and related areas. His area of interest in research continues to be development studies in general and impact evaluations in particular. He completed a UGC, New Delhi sponsored research project in 2011, ICSSR, New Delhi sponsored research project in 2017 and ICSSR-NERC, Shillong sponsored research project in 2023. He has 30 publications in journals/edited books and has presented paper in more than 35 seminars/conferences.

The COVID-19 pandemic triggered an unprecedented downturn in the global tourism industry, placing extraordinary pressure on tourism-dependent businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises. The disruption exposed the vulnerability of small businesses to sudden economic shocks and highlighted the urgent need for effective strategies to manage uncertainty, sustain operations, and build long-term resilience.

This book examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the tourism sector from the perspective of small businesses, while identifying practical mitigation measures that can help enterprises respond to future downturns and uncertainties. Drawing on evidence from the pre-pandemic period through mid-2022, the book provides a systematic assessment of how the pandemic affected tourism businesses and the factors that influenced their ability to withstand the crisis.

A key feature of the study is the application of propensity score analysis, a quasi-experimental research technique used to assess the impact of the pandemic and provide meaningful insights into business performance and resilience. By combining empirical analysis with practical perspectives, the book moves beyond simply documenting the consequences of COVID-19 and focuses on lessons that can support more effective crisis preparedness.

The mitigation measures discussed in the book include factors such as propensity to save, self-confidence, financial preparedness, adaptive capacity, and resilience-oriented business practices. These factors can play an important role in helping small businesses manage disruptions, maintain business operations, improve decision-making, protect returns, and ensure continuity during periods of uncertainty.

The book emphasizes that resilience is not simply the ability to survive a crisis; it is the capacity to anticipate challenges, adapt to changing circumstances, recover from disruptions, and emerge stronger. The lessons drawn from the COVID-19 experience therefore have relevance well beyond the pandemic and can provide guidance for businesses facing future economic, environmental, health, or other unforeseen disruptions.

With its combination of empirical research, tourism studies, business resilience, and crisis management, this book is a valuable resource for tourism researchers, academicians, students, policymakers, entrepreneurs, small-business owners, hospitality professionals, and practitioners seeking to understand and strengthen the resilience of tourism enterprises.

Ultimately, the book offers an evidence-based framework for understanding the vulnerabilities of small tourism businesses and highlights actionable approaches that can contribute to business stability, adaptability, continuity, and sustainable recovery in an increasingly uncertain world.