FROM GROWTH, TO CHAOS, TO UNCERTAINTY: THE IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON EUROPEAN TOURISM

The tourism industry has witnessed an unpreceded growth in recent years. According to the Word Travel and Tourism Council, at a global level, the tourism sector accounted for 10.4% of global GDP and 10% of total employment, being one of the strongest drivers for economic growth since the global crisis in 2008. However, an unforeseen global event shook the entire world from its roots: the occurrence and rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus has created a huge shock for the global economy, having a drastic impact on individuals' everyday lives, as well as their mental health. Economic insecurity, social distancing, unemployment, illness and anxiety seem to be the words to define 2020 so far. The purpose of this scientific paper is to review different aspects of the negative impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the tourism sector in Romania and discuss a set of recommendations for the restart of tourism post-crisis. The paper adopts a qualitative research design, drawing on in-depth interviews with officials from the Romanian central tourism authority to assess the current situation of Romania in the larger European context.