Crisis-resistant tourism markets in the pandemic recovery: Evidence from the Confucius Temple Scenic Area

This study investigates regional variations in the pace and scope of tourism recovery after the shock of the COVID-19 pandemic. A recovery index was created to objectively analyze the process of demand change based on monthly tourism volume data obtained from 309 source cities for China's well-known destination. The mechanisms behind the recovery process were identified using a multiscale geographically weighted regression model. The findings indicate that the recovery process can be divided into four stages and that source cities' recovery varies greatly depending on their location and distance to the tourism destination. The study highlights that tourist demand is significantly influenced by socioeconomic factors, geographic location, and travel preferences. The results have significant managerial implications for tourism DMOs seeking to optimize their COVID-19 recovery efforts.