The interconnection of tourism with the agri-food sector and manufacturing, development tools in the era of COVID-19 and beyond

Περίληψη

In a particularly difficult economic situation, such as the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic that completely reversed the positive development of the relevant figures by the beginning of 2020, the importance of tourism is increasing, as it is not only the heavy industry of Greece, but also a direct financier of the economy. Previous research highlights the importance of cooperation as a crucial element in the development of regional tourism. In this context of cooperative relationships, the role of primary production, agri-food and manufacturing in promoting and raising awareness of existing tourism-related activities, including those related to food and drink, is vital. The proposed study sought to identify and highlight those factors that favour or hinder the development of entrepreneurship in the primary sector, focusing on the impact of the current outbreak of the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic, as well as the business opportunities that will be created by linking tourism with primary production, agri-food and manufacturing on the island of Kefalonia. This island belongs to the Ionian Islands Region and is a tourist destination with great potential. Data were collected from multiple sources, such as secondary data, information from the internet, by filling in a questionnaire from a statistically sufficient sample of the population consisting of primary production manufacturing enterprises. The analysis of the data revealed the key role of the agri-food sector. This in turn underlines the need for a greater focus on how to exploit it in the hospitality sector, so that it can become a top development prospect for Kefalonia and can contribute decisively to its economic progress. Further studies on the common denominators and criteria for distinguishing between sustainable business practices would be valuable for researchers and practitioners, destination management organizations and regional development policy makers.