Tourism and the COVID-19 Global Pandemic – Analysis of Opinions of Czech and Slovak Tourism Students

Research background: Coronavirus has hit universities on several levels, from interrupting teaching and returning students home and changing the form of teaching. Universities have switched to online teaching. The Universities in Prague and Prešov have agreed to use this situation to ascertain students’ views on the course of teaching during a pandemic and their opinions on the further development of tourism at home and in the world. Purpose of the article: The main purpose of the research was to examine the views of tourism students on current events in tourism from a global and local perspective and to compare the views of Czech and Slovak students. Methods: Both universities conducted an online questionnaire survey among tourism students. The questionnaire had two parts: students’ opinions on online teaching during the corona crisis and opinions on the further development of tourism in their countries and in the world after the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings & Value added: The results of the survey brought interesting findings. The COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on students’ lives, for example, lost their work while studying, cancel trips at home and abroad, including studies at foreign universities. Despite that, most students see their future in tourism. Students expect an increase in domestic tourism this year, a decrease in outgoing and incoming. They expect this trend in the next few years as well. Opinions on the development of tourism in the world are in line with the opinion on the development of national tourism