Reintroduction of Ethics in Public Tourism Policies: a necessary reflection in addressing the consequences of Covid-19

From a global perspective, the tourist phenomenon has been characterized by an economic rationality that strengthens the dissociation between "public policies" and "ethics", by abdicating purposes aimed at the common good. It reproduces the finalistic logic of growth in the excessive flow of tourists and the expansion of consumption, without responsible and sustainable planning. The objective of this study is to understand to what extent ethics has been considered in the Brazilian public policies of Tourism, and to identify elements that can become premises and/or proposals for future policies to mitigate the consequences of the pandemic (Covid-19), with a view to the common good and sustainability. Therefore, an exploratory research was carried out, with a qualitative approach, through structured interviews with 29 renowned researchers in the field of Tourism. Results point out that future public tourism policies, in fighting Covid-19 effects, should consider, as a supreme premise, the purpose beyond a base restricted to the economic progress of destinations, but mainly directed to a process of human and sustainable development and common welfare.