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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::
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 will change but we don’t for sure know how and people won’t have enough spare income to afford trips and vacations. This will impact my employees and myself for longer than the pandemic and I am not sure how I can safe my employees positions (May, 2020)
Income from tourists. (December, 2020)
It will be impossible to keep the distance in airplanes, airports and trains, so many people will for a while not use these transport modes because they are afraid. People who do, risk at spreading the virus. (May, 2020)
Concerning is the lack of information and the pure stupidity of many people. All the critics and people who believe in absurd conspiracy theories are absolutely morons. I cannot even believe how ignorant, selfish and careless people are. Im not saying being careful and not believing everything is stupid, no asking questions and criticizing rules is very important. But having just a little bit of common sense is absolutely necessary. I see a it as a clear failure in our education system and im scared that these people are the generation of tomorrow. In school nobody is interested in the subjects the are taught because :" I don't need biology and physics. I will work somewhere else." Then suddenly 5G causes Covid-19 and Bill Gates poisons everyone with his vaccine wich contains little robots to control everybody. Thats just straight up stupid and nonsense. Also I fear that after the pandemic is over everybody will not have changed a bit and just continue on the same as before. (September, 2020)
In one of the President's COVID-19 Press Conferences, Trump had thrown around the idea of businesses being able to fully deduct dining and food expenses. I believe this could be an interesting idea to pursue. Currently, dining and food expenses incurred by businesses can be deducted by 50% as long as they meet certain requirements (cannot be overly extravagant, etc.). If this deductible percentage was increased, it could help to jump start the recovery of the hospitality and tourism industry by incentivizing business meals and group business. A similar case can be made for travel expenses.
Of course, there are ethical implications associated with potential to abuse the system which will need to be weighed. I recommend the spending must meet the current deduction requirements or possibly impose a spending ceiling.
Resources:
https://www.thetaxadviser.com/issues/2020/jan/business-meal-expense-deduction-tcja.html
https://markjkohler.com/writing-off-dining-and-food-expenses/ (April, 2020)
I can speak about my experiences in tennis coaching and mountainbike guiding while the crisis. All the points you have to note before starting the training and how you have to handle the customers. (October, 2020)
Undisturbed places in the forest where I can swim in the forest, so to speak. Where I can relax and recover from everyday life. (June, 2020)
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)
Assistance with tourist vouchers only to accommodation facility. Travel agencies were largely excluded because hoteliers do not confirm shared reservations. (July, 2020)
Thank you so much for putting this together it is truly amazing and I hope it makes a difference. (April, 2020)