THE HR MANAGEMENT OF TOURISM COMPANIES DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC

COVID­19 has been one of the biggest challenges of the modern world. The pandemic has adversely affected many industries throughout the world. Probably tourism is a field that has suffered the most, as the virus has restricted international and local travel. This, in turn, hinders the development of the tourism industry. Like in many countries, the tourism industry has suffered a significant loss of profit in Georgia. This has affected the lifestyle of people involved in the tourism business in a way that they were forced to seek careers in other – more profitable fields. The migration of professionals out of the industry is a huge challenge for tourism development and its post­pandemic rehabilitation, as much of its success depends on the professionalism of people involved in the field. Especially important is the proficiency of tour guides and tour managers, due to theoretical knowledge and the years of experience they have acquired throughout their careers. The goal of this study is to identify the actions the people involved in the tourism business had to take in order to save the business and keep their employees during the pandemic. The study also highlights the essential factors for the quick recovery and steady development of tourism.