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
During this time, our company is continuing to do a little "catch-up" and behind the scenes work. This includes spicing up our website (and the property's websites) to attract guests for after quarantine and freshening up our restaurants' menus. Corporate employees are also brain-storming special deals and offers for after quarantine as well. (April, 2020)
Tourism employee
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
Tourism means a lot to me, as it's a way of learning about a new culture, seeing a destination and also a way of introducing our destinations and culture to tourists visiting. (April, 2020)
Student
Slovenia
CHALLENGES
In my opinion the biggest challenge will be how to alleviate the deep grounded fear that is right now in people and how to persuade them that the world is still safe place for travelling and that other people are not threat anymore. The political measures and role of media are going to be the two mayor factors that will either encourage people to be positive or negative, pesimistic. They will either encourage people to go back to before established travelling routines and continue their lives or block them with reporting just negative news, as the media is doing right now globally. (April, 2020)
Student
Slovenia
CONCERNS
Tourism in general was strongly affected by the global crisis which we are just starting to recover from. I am sure that once all borders are open again, tourism will quickly return to its previous state. What worries me is the attitude that some people will probably have towards tourists from countries which were strongly affected by the virus. The locals might not be as hospitable to certain tourists as before. This might be a big problem since hospitality is the main factor in tourism industry. (June, 2020)
Student
Slovenia
IDEAS
I want hotel companies such as Wyndham, Hilton, and Marriott to start implementing their brand standard cleaning techniques for this virus (maybe even an industry-standard if feasible). The procedure for cleaning guest rooms may have to change. Rather than going with the current method of cleaning one room at a time, It would be feasible first to remove dirty linens and trash from all dirty rooms first. After housekeepers should wipe all surfaces with disinfectant chemicals and then move onto the bathroom to disinfect all areas (including the shower). Rigorous cleaning techniques need to be in place now, more significant than ever before. Housekeepers should then wash their hands accordingly before touching the clean linen and placing them in the guest rooms. I believe employees should have gloves and a face mask at all times. A more extreme but cautious requirement would be for employees to wash their hands every hour on the clock, whether they just washed their hands or not, a fixed element. (March, 2020)
Tourism business representative
United States
I CAN OFFER
My love and support; I would love to donate money to help and do more but I can barely support myself right now. (April, 2020)
Student
United States
I NEED
Just a chat. (November, 2020)
Student
Croatia
SOLUTIONS
https://www.wunderpen.com/ - we sent some letters in the name of our hoteliers and it boomed. The guest wrote personal answers and were very happy. (June, 2020)
Student
Germany
EXPLOITATION
Lots of people lose their jobs do to this crisis. Employees have to get rid of a lot of job places because they need to safe money and the people who are still working for this company get less paid than before. Lots of employees in Austria exploited the "Kurzarbeit" because they got money from the government but the workers in this company still worked the same amount of hours than before, but they got less income. (October, 2020)
Student
Austria
OTHER / SPOTTED
Maybe finding financial solutions or funds for those who are now in existential crisis. I also think everyone who is working in culture sector or any other art branch is fearful of the future situation. I think we should really support those and find a way to make their lives easier. After all, art is what define us, makes us humans. (April, 2020)
