Adaptive Strategies for Survival during the Coronavirus Pandemic of Tourism Industry and Recreation Entrepreneurs in Chiang Mai Province

Abstract

This research aimed to study adaptive strategies of a tourism and recreation entrepreneur, affected by a decline in customers and not being able to make income in a way as usual, in Chiang Mai. The data collected from in-depth interviews was used to conduct a convenience sampling method by selecting businesses in 5 business categories, which has been found for over 5 years with identification in online databases, that were able to run the business after 1^st and 2^nd waves of COVID-19. Besides, accidental sampling method, applied by gathering data from 5 business categories that were available to provide information in a total 16. The results found that the management strategies to survive in the pandemic can be divided into 4 major aspects as follows; (1) For management strategies, it was found that businesses made a situational assessment, explored business resources, prepared a budget plan, and attempted to maintain cashflow in the business to be sufficient in any operation. (2) For sales and marketing, It was found that a business tried to make income in a different way through online channel and also found the new business model adjustment to gain more revenue and cope with human resources worthwhile. (3)For capital and liabilities management, it was found that businesses tried to maintain cashflow so that the business can run with working capital as much as possible, and also reduced expenses by bargaining with all sectors as well as maintaining trade credit and reliability of the business appropriately. (4) For problem-solving and risk management during the crisis, it was found that the business started to adapt to gain income from the different channels for survival. For staff, compensation, food welfare, shortening of working hours instead of substituting for a lay-off, and area and utilities support to be able to make extra income during the crisis.