Ökad efterfrågan på friluftsliv och lokala besöksmål i samband med Covid-19

Sammanfattning: Tourism is a vital part of society today and is used as a way to achieve regional and local development. Since the demand for tourism is constantly changing based on what is happening in the world, destinations must be able to adjust to changes in a global context. For instance when a pandemic prevails, and effects down to a local level can be seen. The management of crises depends on the type of crisis, and the extent and the duration are important factors to take into account for the planning of future tourism. The purpose of the study is to examine connections between changing travel patterns, as a result of the covid-19 pandemic, and local tourist’s demand for exploring the range of places to visit that are available regionally and locally in Umeå municipality. To answer the purpose, interviews with individuals from the local population, public authorities, and municipal authorities in Umeå were conducted. The result showed that the covid-19 pandemic has increased local tourists' demand and their knowledge of local places to visit. This was confirmed by public and municipal authorities in Umeå as they noticed an increased demand for local places to visit which they linked to covid-19. The increased demand meant that they had to make adjustments in their work methods. This study also showed the importance of planning for future tourism since the interest, based on the interview studies with the local population, is something that can be maintained even when the covid-19 pandemic is over.