Klaipėdos universitetas

The Covid-19 pandemic that was announced by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 30 March 2020 has caused blockages in all economic sectors, but tourism is the most affected. It is difficult to estimate the real impact of the pandemic on international tourism. Travel restrictions imposed to stop the spread of the virus have had a devastating impact on the tourism industry around the world. According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, tourism is a vital part of the infrastructure of the world economy, generating 10% of total gross domestic product (GDP), and accounting for one out of ten of all jobs. The tourism sector is very dynamic, requiring a rapid response to a changing environment and market; but it is also most affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Modern tourism requires urgent research, and the analysis of internal and external resources. The perception of changes in the market is a key factor enabling companies to stay in business. Challenges are also posed by technological advances, driven by both the technological advances themselves and safety aspects during the pandemic. This article presents the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the tourism sector globally, which includes the cruise ship and airline industries, and also accommodation. The difficulties are successfully overcome by companies that proactively monitor and evaluate key performance indicators: if the indicators are unsatisfactory, they take all possible measures to improve performance. A smooth and timely restructuring process allows companies in temporary difficulty to reshape their operations by changing their strategy, abandoning unprofitable forms of activity, and focusing on the most efficient ones.

The paper theoretically justified most important elements having direct effect upon consumer. Purpose of research is to develop theoretical model of retail internationalization elements effect upon consumers. by analyse retail internationalization process, retailers fails and success topics, consumer expectations was used general scientific methods of research – scientific literature, comparative and systematic logical analysis. The most important participant in the process of the internationalisation of retail trade is the consumer who actually determines the success or failure of a retail trade company. The analysis of the results of the survey of Lithuanian consumers allows seven principal elements of the process of the internationalisation of retail trade which potentially have a direct effect on the consumer to be identified: the format of the store, the range of the goods, the price, the country of origin of the product, advertising, communication and the image.

In order to achieve the best results, many businesses in the service sector are seeking to understand the needs of consumers and involve them in the process of new services development as well. The formation of individualized consumer portrait allows business entities to get to know their target clients and identify their needs. Meanwhile, the management symbiosis is made by this involvement process and business entities have a perfect opportunity to improve their services according to suggestions and experiences of consumers. All companies, that allow their consumers to involve in the process of new services development, can create an enabling environment for the easier generation of ideas and testing of conceptual services. Such companies can be prepared for new services implementation in a more effective way as well. According to the opinions and theories of different authors, this article analyzes the impact of consumers on the process of new services development. In order to evaluate the object of the research more closely, the research was carried out from the perspective of the business subject also. In order to carry out the results of this research, the methods of comparative analysis and synthesis were used.

In the past three decades cosmic events such as supernovae and the impact of large meteorites have undergone a remarkable renaissance in being considered as a trigger of radical change, not only on geological timescales but also among prehistoric cultures. In such theories, archaeological horizons indicative of destruction events are combined with evidence from dendrochronology, ice-core analysis, mythical traditions etc. and are put forward as evidence for cultural disasters caused by cosmic events. This paper critically scrutinizes the underlying concepts of “cosmic catastrophe” and “cultural disaster” as well as the methods that are meant to corroborate them. Special emphasis is placed upon the limitations that show up in analyzing myth and folklore.