The role of the public sector in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis: The case of Portuguese events’ industry

Abstract

The unprecedented public health crisis experienced during the recent global COVID-19 pandemic outbreak has originated a catastrophic economic crisis for the entire globe. This crisis has been particularly harmful to the tourism industry and, more specifically, to the events’ subsector. This study aims to understand the main measures that have been implemented by the Portuguese public sector to assist companies which specialize in the organization of events. In addition, the study seeks to empirically understand the strategies and solutions that, according to the industry’s players, should be implemented in future crisis scenarios. The sample consisted of representatives of 165 companies belonging to the subsector of cultural and sports events, corporate events, and tourist animation. The data was collected during the month of April 2020 by means of a questionnaire prepared by the Portuguese Association of Congress Organizers, Tourism Animation and Events (APECATE). The adopted methodology was anchored in the mixed methods paradigm. Through a quantitative approach, the frequencies of the variables under study – sector of activity, support measures by the public sector, suggestions of additional measures – were analyzed. Afterwards, the suggestions referred by the participants were codified and analyzed qualitatively. The results of this research reveal that 72.1% of surveyed companies have used some kind public sector assistance mechanisms, with layoff being the most widely selected initiative by respondents. As actions to be implemented in a future crisis scenario, surveyed companies highlight, for instance, support to the managers of companies specialized in organizing events, as well as financial support to these companies by means of non-repayable loans.

Keywords:

• Events
• pandemic crisis
• Portuguese events industry
• public sector
• tourism industry

Declaration of conflicting interests

The authors declare no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship and/or publication of this article.

Notes

1 Participant 18.

2 Participant 111.

3 Participant 142.

4 Participant 49.

5 Participant 89.

6 Participant 107.

7 Participant 68.

8 Participant 95.

9 Participant 110.

10 Participant 14.

11 Participant 16.

12 Participant 104.

13 Participant 57.

14 Participant 117.

15 Participant 157.

16 Participant 31.

17 Participant 58.

18 Participant 131.