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.
CHALLENGES
Deciding which hotel is clean and COVID-19 free is a big decision when deciding where to stay for work during this outbreak. Numerous employers still need their employees to travel for their job, while it may not have to be through airlines, traveling involves the need to stay somewhere for a short period of time. (April, 2020)
Tourist
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
Freedom of traveling our wonderful world. (April, 2020)
Student
Germany
CHALLENGES
The biggest challenge that the crisis brings with it is the economic aspect. Due to the almost global shutdown of the economy, it is not yet certain how bad the economy will be in the future. Tourism has been hit pretty hard, especially in Tyrol, and will therefore have a heavy loss in occupancy and reservations. How bad it actually gets is still unclear. (June, 2020)
Student
Austria
CONCERNS
Initially, there was a fear. Then a question of the summer season, on which not only many Croatians depend income wise, but also the financial health of the country (large share of BDP). Now, it seems that there will be some tourist activity over the summer season, but the restrictive measures were relaxed in such a short time that many fear of the surge in number of sick once international visitors arrive. This is at this very moment, but situation still changes very quickly and next week it might be that we would face entire new set of issue. (May, 2020)
Researcher, academic
Croatia
IDEAS
Hotel management could begin to think about how the crisis will affect tourists' behavior. In my opinion, safety will emerge as one of the most important factors in tourists' decision making. So the hotel management could go through the "design thinking process", through the stages upon arrival at the hotel. Maybe the hotel receptionist will be wearing gloves from now on. The lobby may need to be rearranged to make it more open, reduce the number of seats, move tables further apart. There might be a need to add disinfectants and air fresheners to rooms and throughout the hotel. Maybe add air quality to the hotel website. (April, 2020)
Student
Slovenia
I CAN OFFER
As a tourism student, I can currently contribute to the renovation of tourism by helping with various tourism-related projects where I feel I can contribute. (April, 2020)
Student
Slovenia
I NEED
I may want to have any resources shows how exactly the tourism industry will be recovered from previous cases such as the SARS or H1N1, and any resources that showing the prediction of how long the tourism industry should be recovered. Then take a look on its differnece. (April, 2020)
Student
United States
SOLUTIONS
Online wine degustations. (April, 2020)
Tourism employee
Slovenia
EXPLOITATION
Assistance with tourist vouchers only to accommodation facility. Travel agencies were largely excluded because hoteliers do not confirm shared reservations. (July, 2020)
Tourism employee
Slovenia
OTHER / SPOTTED
I really like the idea. But I am afraid the world is too greedy to make any honest changes in any other direction than making money/profit. (May, 2020)
