5.

1 Summary and Conclusion

This study is conducted to understand the impact of Covid-19 to tourism sector. From
this study, it is deemed that the impact of Covid-19 to tourism industry has caused job loss,
restriction of interstate travel as well as economic downturn. The results also shows that
unemployment rate as well as domestic violence cases is increasing during those MCO
period. This study also aimed to understand the future of tourism trend after Covid-19
pandemic. The results of this study shows that the future trends of covid-19 that tourists will
think twice before they going to travel. They also need to familiarize themselves with the new
norm of using mask and washing hands frequently.
Digitalization is another key findings in this study. Traveller will try to go contactless
with the place that they visit by using digital webminar, teleconferencing or video
conferences. Another significant trend that can be observed would be tour operators need to
work together with airlines company, hotels as well as their competitors in order to stay in
business.
Next, this study is conducted to suggest practical measures that can be applied by tour
operators to stay in the business. From this study, they were suggesting that; teamwork
among the tour operators, promote domestics tourism, practice sustainability and provide
convenience working environment for the employees. These are some of practical measures
that can be done by the tour operators to stay in business.

5.2 Implication
It is postulated that this study helps the tour operators in Sabah to prepare their
businesses if there is another pandemic hit their operations. The impact of covid-19 is varies
and tourism industry is badly affected by this. Therefore, the mentioned impact can be a
guidelines for them to prepare better in future. The mentioned impact can be a benchmarks
for future researcher to study and compared as well.
Next, the suggested measures is practical measures. It comes directly from the tour
operators themselves whom were affected by this pandemic. It is not something that is
theoretically mentioned but on-site experience. The suggested measures can be used to
inform, educate as well as leading crisis-enabled information.
The recovery process for tourism industry after Covid-19 may requires a longer time
to recuperate. The priorities should be given to recover and go back to the track before the
pandemic happened. Subsidies, tax relief as well as relaxation of restrictions toward interstate
travel can be help to stimulate the economy growth as well the tourism businesses.
Overall, the impact, measures as well as the recovery process of Covid-19 still a long
process. However, with the current technology advancement as well as medicine research, the
situation will improved. That is why, government as well as the tour operators must stay
vigilant during this hard time.
5.3 Limitations and Recommendations
Firstly, this study context is only limited to Sabah perspective. The respondents were chosen
randomly among the tour operators group. In addition, the respondents were only interviewed
managers, not the employees. Due to this covid-19, employees whom working in tourism
sectors were the one that badly affected. Therefore, for future research, the respondents can
be inclusive of all level of management in tourism industry.

Apart from that. This study done comprehensively all over the other state of Malaysia to get a
holistic results. A comparison study might be good indicator as well as not all the state in
Malaysia depends on tourism as their main activity.
Another identified limitations also is the research design. For future research, a quantitative
approach can be apply for this study. Perhaps, by applying different approach, a comparison
of data can be made.
Lastly, the study were limited by time and budget constraints. For future study, the time
frame of the study should be extended as well as getting fund from relevant government
agencies.