The 2020 pandemic and previous years’ overtourism issues showed us both the benefits, the relevance, and the limits of the tourism, hospitality and leisure industries for society. We cannot foresee the future, but we can listen to challenges and start developing solutions.
So far we have received more than 900 responses in which these questions have been discussed::
How should we IMAGINE tourism now that we have an opportunity to reset the way we do business?
Which CHANGES would you like to see? If any?
What are your CHALLENGES and CONCERNS?
What are your IDEAS and SOLUTIONS to make it through the pandemic AND into a sustainable and innovative future of tourism?
In the name of the global tourism family, many thanks to every single one of you for the inspiring feedback. Your replies are summarized in the sections below.
Don't forget to share YOUR insights (for the first time or again, with new observations):
The 10 quotes below are updated every few minutes and elephant word-clouds are recalculated regularly based on your new survey entries. You have to refresh the page or revisit us every so often to see the changed content.
CONCERNS
The unemployment rate is extremely high during the COVID-19 period. This industry may prefer employees with decades of practical experience instead of graduates with a high-level educational background, let alone in the pandemic period. Such a phenomenon arouses people's bias in working in this industry - job discrimination existed - In many Asian countries, parents won't suggest their kids work for a hotel (not a "decent" job + low salaries/wages) comparing to studying engineer/medicine/CS, etc. (April, 2020)
Student
United States
Explore #TourismFromZero perspectives
Different perspectives on the selected topic: ALL
Tourism business representative
Bosnia Herzegovina
Tourist
Singapore
Tourism business representative
Slovakia
#From Instagram
TOURISM MEANS
For me tourism means exploring new countries and places. Personally I don't refer to myself as a tourist when im going to other places. I would say im more like a visitor. I feel like being a tourist has some kind of a bad stigma. I know how it feels if you see more tourists in your city than locals. Thats why I try to not to behave as a tourist when im on vacation. Tourism also plays a big role in the creation and conservation of jobs. So in some way it also feels like a secure and steady income source for a lot of people. (September, 2020)
Student
Austria
CHALLENGES
As of right now, the start date for my post-graduation career has been delayed due to the COVID-19 virus. My family and loved ones have already been impacted with their jobs and small businesses they operate. (April, 2020)
Student
United States
CONCERNS
That mass tourism and destruction of tourism destinations and local communities will occur again. (April, 2020)
Student
Netherlands
IDEAS
I would be so happy if we would reduce the massive production and replace plastic with more nature-friendly materials, promote more conscious way of travelling and with a purpose, reduce flights and help locals by buying their products. I would also promote domestic tourism so less people would travel long-distances. Supporting artists and other creators would be my biggest wish so they could reach out to the world and sustain their life with their work of art. (April, 2020)
Student
Slovenia
I CAN OFFER
I work in the hotel management in a luxury castle. There we can provide our guests the maximum comfort with a 8 ha garden (and we only have 25 rooms/suits) so it is perfect for guests, who want a short break from there everyday life, who wants to relaxe, who wants to enjoy the nature.
So nowadays it is necessary to provide your guests everything they want. That they leave your hotel with a smile. (October, 2020)
Student
Austria
I NEED
For tourist right now there is only the option to dream of future trips and looking back at past ones. Many destinations around the world already offer digital content to facilitate this. In the future it will be important to receive information about the immunity of the population and I am sure that less crowded destinations will be more popular in the short run. (April, 2020)
Tourist
Germany
SOLUTIONS
This is the first time we have found ourselves in such a crisis, so we do not know the solution and good practices. (September, 2020)
Tourism employee
Slovenia
EXPLOITATION
Global airlines and hotels holding back payments or only providing credits to customers, yet laying people off, and seeking bailouts. (April, 2020)
Researcher, academic
Canada
OTHER / SPOTTED
Strategy for opening: personalize your offer. Think about how people will travel and plan how to highlight your strengths. Who will be your buyer? Prepare new experiences for individuals or really small groups involving the locals. (April, 2020)
