Purpose

The interview with Mr Itsik (Isaac) Peres aims to provide a set of insights from the field – through global, Middle-Eastern and Israeli lenses – on some of the major challenges for the tourism industry in the face of COVID-19.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper consists of an academic interview with Mr Itsik (Isaac) Peres and presents an engaging discussion between the experienced and knowledgeable tour guide and a scholar of resilience.

Findings

Mr Peres calls for a balanced approach that views health considerations as the top priority but at the same time believes that the tourism industry may – at least partially – adapt itself to the global pandemic and operate through a “new normal” during COVID-19. It is also claimed that there is no conflict between necessary international standards and local knowledge, creativity and adaptation measures. Mr Itsik Peres also addresses the potential major local and regional opportunities for the tourism industry and for the society as a whole that may emerge because of the new Abraham Accords (a peace treaty between Israel, United Arab Emirates and Bahrain signed in August 2020).

Originality/value

This paper presents an original and comprehensive analysis of the major challenges and solutions for the tourism industry in the face of COVID-19 through the lenses of an experienced professional in the field. The interview provides the reader with short-term and long-term “take away” messages for more effective and adaptive functioning of the tourism industry – during the COVID-19 epidemic and following its hopeful end.

中文翻译：

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尽管面临 COVID-19 挑战，旅游业仍是跨文化理解与和解的桥梁：采访Itsik Peres 博士

目的

对Itsik (Isaac) Peres 先生的采访旨在通过全球、中东和以色列的视角，就旅游业在面对 COVID-19 时面临的一些主要挑战，提供该领域的一系列见解。

设计/方法/方法

本文包括对Itsik (Isaac) Peres 先生的学术访谈，并介绍了经验丰富且知识渊博的导游与韧性学者之间的引人入胜的讨论。

发现

佩雷斯先生呼吁采取一种平衡的方法，将健康考虑作为重中之重，但同时认为旅游业可能——至少部分——适应全球大流行，并在 COVID-19 期间通过“新常态”运作。还声称必要的国际标准与当地知识、创造力和适应措施之间没有冲突。伊西克·佩雷斯先生还谈到了由于新的亚伯拉罕协议（以色列、阿拉伯联合酋长国和巴林于 2020 年 8 月签署的和平条约）而可能出现的旅游业和整个社会的潜在重大本地和区域机遇。

原创性/价值

本文通过该领域经验丰富的专业人士的视角，对面对 COVID-19 的旅游业面临的主要挑战和解决方案进行了原创而全面的分析。这次采访为读者提供了短期和长期的“外卖”信息，以促进旅游业在 COVID-19 流行期间及其充满希望的终结之后更有效和适应性地发挥作用。