Adapting crisis recovery models to a multi-crisis tourism industry: The case of Sri Lanka

Abstract

This paper examines the evolution of crisis recovery models in the context of Sri Lanka’s tourism industry, which has faced multiple overlapping crises since 2019, including the Easter Sunday attacks, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the economic crisis. Traditional crisis recovery models, such as Faulkner’s Tourism Disaster Management Framework and Ritchie’s Crisis and Disaster Management Framework, have proven inadequate in addressing the multi-crisis environment faced by Sri Lanka, where overlapping crises require continuous adaptation. Using a qualitative research approach, interviews with 192 stakeholders from the Sri Lanka Hoteliers Association and the Sri Lanka Inbound Tour Operators Association were conducted. The data were analysed using thematic, narrative, and grounded theory analysis to develop a new framework for crisis recovery that better addresses the complex, evolving nature of crises in the tourism sector. The findings suggest that traditional models need to evolve towards a dynamic, resilience-based approach that incorporates stakeholder collaboration, demographic-driven strategies, and continuous innovation. This research provides valuable insights into how the tourism industry can build resilience in the face of future crises, offering theoretical contributions and practical recommendations for both academia and industry stakeholders.