Culture Heritage and Tourism: Revitalisation and Building Resilience Amid the Second Wave of COVID-19

The sector of cultural heritage has faced huge repercussions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The outbreak of the highly contagious coronavirus across the world had brought the sector to a halt due to restricted travel norms and closing down of heritage sites and museums. The livelihoods of several engaged in this sector have been jeopardized due to the pandemic. Even with the vaccinations for COVID-19 rolling out across several countries, the sector is still struggling to recover the losses faced due to the closures and revive their resources and functions to normalcy. With the second wave of COVID-19 setting in the country, the adversities of the sector are going to remain for a while. It is also considered as one of the most impacted sectors by COVID-19 as the pandemic has caused direct and indirect long-lasting implications to this sector.

The shutting down of heritage sites and museums due to the pandemic-induced lockdowns has already resulted in huge economic losses. The poaching and looting of antiques had also been a major issue due to the prolonged locking down of heritage sites and museums. The sector, being highly dependent on international and domestic tourism for economic resources, is still witnessing sedative earnings due to the drop in the number of visitors. The constraint of restricted visitors for conducting cultural events according to the COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and cancellation of mass cultural gatherings, fairs and expos further add to the issue.