TOURISM MEANS

For me, tourism has just as much to do with locality as with business. I believe that we need to discuss tourism not only from a touristic point of view, but rather from a perspective where local businesses, infrastructure, cultural institutions and the local societies in total is taken into consideration as the foundation for all tourism. Since tourism affects all parts of a local community, tourism development should work bottom-up, where locals are involved to ensure that development follows up on the locals values and needs for their own society. With this approach, tourism can add to sustainable growth and welfare, contribute to increased cultural understanding and respect and be a part of the environmental solutions. (May, 2020)

Tourism or convention office, event organizer

Norway

CHALLENGES

During my studies I have been constantly working in the tourism industry. While working, I was gaining valuable experiences in a lot of different fields of tourism and in the meantime I was enjoying what I did, I really found a passion in making people feel welcomed and helping them do interesting things on their travels. So the challenge I am facing in this hard situation is not being able to do what I love and I know a lot of people right now who are feeling the same way. (March, 2020)

Student

Slovenia

CONCERNS

I am not concerned about tourism in general. I do however worry about small businesses and tour guides who are already dormant during the winter months and are waiting for the summer season to accumulate their earnings, which likely will not be possible this year. They are in great danger of going out of business, but overall at the macro level, tourism should return to its old path. How long this will take is extremely difficult to predict. A week ago, the WTO predicted a 3 % to 4% drop in global travel, yet today we are already at a 30% drop. Jobs are definitely at risk. What I can say with confidence is that this crisis will bring some changes. There will now be a lot of room for innovation and adaptation of current work processes. I do not think tourism will die, but it will evolve. (April, 2020)

Student

Slovenia

IDEAS

Covid tests for everyone at home to make sure you can go out without the risk to infect other people. (December, 2020)

Student

Austria

I CAN OFFER

Relationships with Japanese art-tourism practitioners.

Networking to Japanese service researchers.

Collaborative (virtual/ real) place with industrial association people. (June, 2020)

Researcher, academic

Japan

I NEED

I think our company needs a good and positive employee force, including maintaining good HR practices and encouragement to give employees. Personally, the company also needs a plan from our boss going forward (as hard and uncertain as the world is making that on him). (April, 2020)

Tourism employee

United States

SOLUTIONS

Off the topic more personalized school system would drastically develop our country in a decade. For sure there would be more tourism and sustainability experts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqTTojTija8 (April, 2020)

Student

Slovenia

EXPLOITATION

There have been cases I heard of where companies would apply for financial support from the government, even though they where not entitled to get it and had no real need for it. (June, 2020)

Student

Austria

OTHER / SPOTTED

We can not go back to normal after the covid19-crisis because before was a crisis too. Climate crisis should be handled like a bigger threat! (April, 2020)

Student

Germany