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.
EXPLOITATION
Not do much an exploitation as such, but discounting I see amongst hotels in Japan will not save the industry as it causes the Prisoner's Dilemma. Everyone could suffer as a result. (April, 2020)
Student
Japan
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 is about: exploring new cultures and places; Learning to see the world through new perspectives; getting away from it all; life-long memories; meeting new people; relaxing, speaking other languages, happy times with family and friends. (May, 2020)
Researcher, academic
France
CHALLENGES
A complete drop in sales. (August, 2020)
Tourism employee
Slovenia
CONCERNS
I am concerned for the employees at each of the properties because being furlough I imagine is very difficult. I also am concerned for my boss, I do not want him to lose any of the properties because this is not something he can control. I am also concerned for the company as a whole because they are making little money.
In the eyes of the company, I am concerned the employees will not come back after the properties are allowed to reopen, that leaves a lot of hiring and HR work for our company (mainly my boss). I am also concerned to lose a lot of the suppliers we have for each property. (April, 2020)
Tourism employee
United States
IDEAS
The government should extend the waiting period for tourist companies to start work at least until the end of the year 2020. (September, 2020)
Tourism employee
Slovenia
I CAN OFFER
During this time, our company is continuing to do a little "catch-up" and behind the scenes work. This includes spicing up our website (and the property's websites) to attract guests for after quarantine and freshening up our restaurants' menus. Corporate employees are also brain-storming special deals and offers for after quarantine as well. (April, 2020)
Tourism employee
United States
I NEED
We do not need special resources, only normal conditions that will allow travel. (August, 2020)
Tourism employee
Slovenia
SOLUTIONS
Protect the resource at all costs. If communities and the attraction (I'm thinking here wildlife) isn't benefiting then it's time to re-consider new options. (April, 2020)
Researcher, academic
Canada
EXPLOITATION
Some companies, especially in the medical and hygiene sector, have certainly been able to use the pandemic to their advantage. (October, 2020)
Student
Austria
OTHER / SPOTTED
It's been about 30 years since I started this job. I have experienced the collapse of the Internet bubble, the Lehman shock, the Great East Japan Earthquake, and so on. Marketing techniques such as sales measures, cost control, and attracting customers during these times are the know-how of tourism that cannot be learned in normal times. (June, 2020)
