The Impact of COVID-19 on Destination’s Life Cycle (The Case of Samokov Municipality, Bulgaria)
The Impact of COVID-19 on Destination’s Life Cycle (The Case of Samokov Municipality, Bulgaria)

Author(s): Vassia Yaneva
Subject(s): Social Sciences
Published by: Udruženje ekonomista i menadžera Balkana
Keywords: Tourism; Life cycle; Pandemic
Summary/Abstract: The life cycle of a destination is a concept used by Butler (1980) to examine and analyze tourism evolution in specific destinations. With the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic world tourism arrivals and revenues decreased, occupancy rates fell, and international markets shifted. The paper aims to examine the extent of these changes and the pandemic effect on the life cycle in one of the most popular winter ski and sports destinations in Bulgaria – Samokov municipality. The methods used are based on statistical data provided by the Bulgarian Statistical Institute. The main results of the research are that Bulgarian tourism in general is recovering quickly and successfully after the COVID-19 pandemic and that the life cycle of a destination is not limited only to the changing numbers of tourist arrivals to it. There is a need to review the classic model of Butler and introduce more indicators to be used.

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