Importance of Crisis Management in the phase of Covid-19 Pandemic: Sample of Safe Tourism Certificate of T.R. Ministry of Culture and Tourism

Abstract

The main purpose of this research is to examine the success of “Safe Tourism Certificate”, a unique programme launched by T.R. Ministry of Culture and Tourism, within the scope of crisis management during the Covid-19 pandemic period. In this research, effects, benefits, and results in terms of foreign travel of the programme “Safe Tourism Certificate” by T.R. Ministry of Culture and Tourism which is one of the implementations made in “Phase of crisis becoming chronic”, one of the four phases of crisis determined by Steven Fisk are analysed. As a conclusion, it was found that Turkey manages the reliability of tourism industry and crisis communication proactively by using the programme “Safe Tourism Certificate” by T.R. Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The tourism industry of Turkey gained the trust of many European countries. Besides, it was seen that international accreditation institutions carry out crisis, communication and reputation management in a successful way that is fast, transparent and far from speculation upon their participation of the transactions of issuing a “Safe Tourism Certificate”. The “Safe Tourism Certificate” project and its implementation will be celebrated upon meeting the requests of “Law of Tourism Profession” of the tourism personnel who are the most important implementors of Safe Tourism Certificate. The “Safe Tourism Certificate” programme shall be maintained by being developed and updated after the Covid-19 pandemic’s infectious and effects are decreased, and its spread is prevented.