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.
TOURISM MEANS
A way to learn about different people and cultures, explore and adventure.
Runaway from everydays work and obligations. (April, 2020)
Tourist
Macedonia
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
Travelling for me is pushing myself out of the comfort zone and going into the unknown. It broadens your mind and gives you experience only you have. The trip to Cuba gave me a lot of first time experience. From buying and smoking my first cigar and exploring the history of that amazing country. If it wasn’t for that trip I would never find my love for cigars and that is the point of travelling for me. It’s not about the short term experience that travelling provides but about the long term experience that changes you for the rest of your life. (May, 2020)
Student
Slovenia
CHALLENGES
Dealing with information overload. Trips abroad. Less salary. Short-time work. Lockdown. Regeneration time after COVID. Competition of the companies for the domestic guests. (June, 2020)
Student
Austria
CONCERNS
My concern is that after COVID-19 pandemic accessibility to culture and heritage will be limited with negative consequences especially for more vulnerable visitors, including people with disabilities. Too often these visitors are already excluded from their right “freely to participate in the cultural life of the community and to enjoy the arts” (Article 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights). (May, 2020)
Researcher, academic
Italy
IDEAS
Create a page or web site where all students from all the world can travel together. As would be like in an erasmus trip. (April, 2020)
Student
Italy
I CAN OFFER
From co-creating new stories, writing them down, connecting the partners, implementing ideas into the practice, organizing activities, discussing with media, public presentations and networking. (March, 2020)
Tourism business representative
Slovenia
I NEED
It would be nice to hear more ideas and support from professors at my institution as well as other institutions that are leaders in hospitality/tourism and/or business in how to react in these times (i.e. Cornell, HBS, Michigan State, etc.). (April, 2020)
Student
United States
SOLUTIONS
Restrict AirBnb accommodations to be only available in high season months, limit the maximum commisson for OTA like Booking.com and Expedia. (April, 2020)
Tourism or convention office, event organizer
Slovenia
EXPLOITATION
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)
Student
Austria
OTHER / SPOTTED
Locals: we all find out plenty of local farmers and other stakeholders in our area in those days. Connect with them, think how to include their products in you offer and how to support your local community in those days. Be an active member and make small actions to help. We are all members of the same destination and together we are stronger. (April, 2020)
