THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON THE TRANSFORMATION OF TOURISM BEHAVIOUR IN TRANSCARPATHIA

Abstract

Looking back at the past decade, it is evident that the series of crises affecting Ukraine – including the 2014 eastern Ukraine conflict, the annexation of Crimea, the 2019–2022 COVID-19 pandemic, and the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war since 2022 – have had long-term and predominantly negative impacts on the country’s tourism industry. This study examines the impact of the pandemic on changes in tourism behaviour in Transcarpathia, emphasizing the need for resilience and adaptation. The subject of the research is the population’s travel habits before, during, and after the pandemic. The aim of the research is to explore the changes in tourism behavior caused by COVID-19, including the realization of travel plans, compensation strategies, and long-term effects. The research methodology consists of an online questionnaire survey (300 respondents, in Hungarian and Ukrainian), supplemented by qualitative and quantitative analysis and a literature review. The findings reveal that the pandemic negatively affected 87 % of travel plans; only 21 % of pre-booked trips were realized; during the pandemic, preference for domestic tourism increased (48 %), the importance of nature-based excursions grew (39 %), and travel willingness declined (26 % decrease). The practical significance of the study lies in assisting tourism providers in developing resilient strategies, such as digital bookings, sustainable offerings, and crisis management. Conclusion: The pandemic accelerated the transformation of tourism, highlighting the role of local destinations and adaptive behavior. Prospects for further research include comparing the impacts of the war with those of the pandemic and examining long-term resilience.