An analysis of the competitiveness of the tourism industry in a context of economic recovery following the COVID19 pandemic

•This study has identified the 13 most vulnerable countries in terms of tourism competitiveness.•The most vulnerable are Panama, Georgia, Bahrain, Morocco, Montenegro, Albania, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Jordan, Tunisia, Cape Verde, Honduras, and Lebanon.•The keys dimensions that condition the competitiveness have been identified.•These dimensions are related to cultural heritage, protection of natural areas, information and communication technologies, among others. Business activities within the tourism industry are especially suffering from the consequences of the COVID19 pandemic. Those countries whose economy depends largely on tourism will experience a troublesome situation for years to come. Their return to a normal situation will be conditioned by the competitiveness of their tourism sector. The study begins by pinpointing the countries that have been more hardly stricken by the pandemic and in which tourism accounts for a greater share of the GDP. A comparative analysis of the competitiveness of these countries with that of world-leading countries will be carried out so as to conclude which will face the recovery period in a more vulnerable situation. The measurement of tourism competitiveness will be supported by the creation of a synthetic indicator based on the P2 distance method. A group of 13 countries has been identified as the most vulnerable, and it is advisable to act urgently in the following areas: the promotion of cultural elements and the historical and artistic heritage, the protection of natural areas, the availability of information and communication technologies, the international openness of the destination, and the availability of transportation infrastructures and tourist services.