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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::
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.
In my opinion there should be a possibility during quarantine that you are allowed to spend quarantine in other places - for example rent out an apartment with a terace or garden and stay there for the next month (min. stay atleast 2 weeks) - you are only allowed to stay on your premises and shop for neccesities. That way there still won't be any overcrowded places.
Doing this would help the tourism industry to atleast "stay above water" financially and offer tourists to change their surroundings from time to time. (April, 2020)
A way to learn about different people and cultures, explore and adventure.
Runaway from everydays work and obligations. (April, 2020)
As a current employee in the hospitality industry, I have been forced to stop working due to the coronavirus. I was working to complete my field study at the Inn at Virginia Tech, which I was enjoying so much. Now due to the virus, I am no longer able to work and I am unsure whether I will be able to return to work in the future. (April, 2020)
I worry that a lot of businesses will go down, and that the development of tourism will stop or even go back. In Northern Norway, we have been working hard with issues of sustainability, and I am afraid that sustainable choices will have less attention from the companies' side, because their main focus will be to get a minimum of income. I also worry that working within the tourism industry will be less attractive. (May, 2020)
In one of the President's COVID-19 Press Conferences, Trump had thrown around the idea of businesses being able to fully deduct dining and food expenses. I believe this could be an interesting idea to pursue. Currently, dining and food expenses incurred by businesses can be deducted by 50% as long as they meet certain requirements (cannot be overly extravagant, etc.). If this deductible percentage was increased, it could help to jump start the recovery of the hospitality and tourism industry by incentivizing business meals and group business. A similar case can be made for travel expenses.
Of course, there are ethical implications associated with potential to abuse the system which will need to be weighed. I recommend the spending must meet the current deduction requirements or possibly impose a spending ceiling.
Resources:
https://www.thetaxadviser.com/issues/2020/jan/business-meal-expense-deduction-tcja.html
https://markjkohler.com/writing-off-dining-and-food-expenses/ (April, 2020)
A vaaast information on local stories, a good network of local and regional stakeholders (Maribor, Slovenia) and a bit of crazy innovativeness that comes with our formats. (April, 2020)
I need a guideline on the best way to position myself to find a job once companies in the hospitality industry start hiring again. (April, 2020)
6 Startups That Can Help: https://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com/resources/impact-covid-19-travel-hospitality-industry-and-6-startups-can-help/ (May, 2020)
I think it is insane that you have to pay over €90 to get tested for COVID 19. There are a lot of people who cannot afford it especially when they were put on "Kurzarbeit" or lost their job. I think everyone should be able to get tested for free. (June, 2020)
Don't spend this time stressing but building the future plans and gaining new knowledge that will be useful in the next few years. (April, 2020)