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.
I CAN OFFER
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)
Tourism business representative
Slovenia
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
As I am tourism researcher and consultant tourism for me is a serious human activity with significant economic, social and environmental impacts (positive and negative) and an agent of change if managed correctly. (May, 2020)
Researcher, academic
Croatia
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
Cashflow is a major concern, as with any business, as well as the health of our employees and business partners. (May, 2020)
Tourism business representative
United Kingdom
IDEAS
This virus has made it very difficult to come up with solutions to this problem when it comes to being a tourist. People don't show symptoms for up to 2 weeks and many people can be asymptomatic. Something I actually heard the other day was that studies are being done that have shown that the spread of the virus is much lower during outdoor events. For example soccer games. I can attest to this because my dad and I went to 2 soccer games during the outbreak and we did not get the virus. So an interesting idea would make public transportation open-air somehow. This would allow people to get around without being stuck inside a vehicle where this virus can run rampant. Outdoor events can also be reopened with maybe 1/2 to 3/4 of the number of people to allow for them to social distance a little while being at this outdoor event. This would allow for tourists to go to places and do some things involved in that culture while slowing the spread of the virus. (April, 2020)
Tourist
United States
I CAN OFFER
I can keep people company or help them with basic info about how to use electronic devices to keep in touch with friend and relatives. (April, 2020)
Student
Slovenia
I NEED
Senior industry professionals giving guidance to those who are just starting out in this industry during these troubling times. (March, 2020)
Student
United States
SOLUTIONS
Campaigns with providers through social media, radio... We are contecting providers in the some field (restaurants / sport activities / local food & prodacts) and making separate campaigns. To help them and support them in this period and also to share interesting experiences in our destination and ideas to the time after covid19. We are including sustainability and green solutions. Strengthen on the domestic market. (April, 2020)
Tourism employee
Slovenia
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
I support the initiative, but I am afraid we cannot save tourism until the virus spreads. (August, 2020)
