The Road Forward From a Pandemic : A qualitative study of small business owners in the tourist industry on Phuket Island

Abstract: Given the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the world and researchers prospecting more events like this to happen in the future it is important to shed light on the impact which it have had on those especially vulnerable to these sorts of risks and disasters. Furthermore, the tourism industry is known for its vulnerability and volatility in the eye of global events. Thus, this paper aims to give a voice to those working on a grassroot level – with focus on Phuket, Thailand, also known as the Andaman pearl, in the tourism industry, and also look at how they have managed the effects of the pandemic. The study is qualitative and uses semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis. Relevant theoretical frameworks have been applied to understand the results of the interviews. It will also look at the prospects the respondents see for themselves and the tourism industry in Phuket in relation to the aftermath of the pandemic, and the war between Ukraine and Russia as a possible threat to the return of tourists to Phuket.