Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide a swift perspective to JTF readers on the
novel coronavirus outbreak that commenced in Wuhan, China in December 2019 and is
currently ongoing. The study situates the current outbreak within prior pandemics and offers
some directions for research and practice. Swift attention is needed to this event and the
future of travel and tourism in a world where disease outbreaks and pandemics will become
increasingly frequent due to increased travel and ease of access to destinations worldwide …

This paper captures events on the novel coronavirus, as they are unfolding now, situates this
in relation to the research literature on past pandemics like severe acute respiratory
syndrome (SARS) and Ebola and draws some important directions to guide research and
practice.