The Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Tourism Along the Oregon Coast

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Date

2022

Authors

Arnaut-Hull, Zoe

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Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

University of Oregon

Abstract

On March 17, 2020, Oregon Governor Kate Brown issued Emergency Order 20-12 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, prohibiting gatherings of 25 or more people, banning on-site consumption of food and drink at food establishments, and requiring social distancing protocols at retail businesses. This “Stay Home, Save Lives” campaign was bound to have impacts, especially on communities and economies that are reliant on tourism. Using cell phone data to track weekly visits to various points of interests along the Oregon Coast, I find that tourist visits to business establishments in the food, service, and retail sectors were most affected by the restrictions, whereas visits to natural landmarks, like beaches, ports, and marinas, as well as to recreational goods rental stores remained largely unchanged. These results can help policymakers understand the short-term impacts of stay-at-home orders and thus, inform future policies. 

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Keywords

Economics, Pandemic, Tourism, Oregon Coast, Econometrics

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