'No Ebola…still doomed' - The Ebola-induced tourism crisis

Abstract

Many recent crisis and disasters affecting tourism have been studied, but few explicitly explore health related crisis in developing countries. This study analyses the effect of the Ebola Virus Disease Epidemic (EVDE) on The Gambia, where, despite no reported cases, EVDE had devastating consequences. A Rapid Situation Analysis is used to gain insights into responses to the EVDE, encompassing interviews with key stakeholders, field observations and follow up meetings with those involved in managing the crisis over 21 months. A crisis and disaster framework is used to understand the challenges encountered. Findings highlight the importance of consumer perception and preparedness and management failures' consequences, contributing to the broader debate on the indirect threat of epidemics on tourism in developing countries.

Keywords: Ebola; Perception; Preparedness; Recovery; The Gambia; Tourism crisis.

Fig. 1

Ritchie’s (2004) Tourism Crisis and Disaster Management Framework (CDMF).

Fig. 2

The Gambia in relation to Countries affected by Ebola Outbreaks (Source: Adapted from The Economist, 2016).

Fig, 3

Public Heath England – Ebola Information at UK Airports and other Ports of Entry (Source: Novelli’s personal collection October 2015).