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 NEED
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)
Student
Austria
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
What I love about travelling is the feeling I get every time, when I’m off to a new trip, and excitement about discovering new destinations, learning about different cultures, meeting new people and escaping from reality and turning off our everyday lifestyle. (May, 2020)
Student
Serbia
CHALLENGES
We have significantly less work, so many employees have been waiting for work at home for almost half a year. (September, 2020)
Tourism employee
Slovenia
CONCERNS
I am not concerned about tourism in general. I do however worry about small businesses and tour guides who are already dormant during the winter months and are waiting for the summer season to accumulate their earnings, which likely will not be possible this year. They are in great danger of going out of business, but overall at the macro level, tourism should return to its old path. How long this will take is extremely difficult to predict. A week ago, the WTO predicted a 3 % to 4% drop in global travel, yet today we are already at a 30% drop. Jobs are definitely at risk. What I can say with confidence is that this crisis will bring some changes. There will now be a lot of room for innovation and adaptation of current work processes. I do not think tourism will die, but it will evolve. (April, 2020)
Student
Slovenia
IDEAS
Hospitality is the most personal human interaction industry. I don't see how the hospitality industry will be able to become virtual like most industry's are becoming due to the coronavirus. That being said, I think the hospitality industry should shift a lot of focus to nature based tourism. This would allow people to practice social distancing and enjoy beautiful places in nature at the same time. An idea would be to establish an open air outdoor hotel in close to great hiking spots, where the hotel would serve as a base camp. This way tourists can go hiking all day then comeback and enjoy the services usually provided by a hotel, while still enjoying being outside in the fresh air. (April, 2020)
Student
United States
I CAN OFFER
Sharing of efforts by OTA and fintech companies and so on. (April, 2020)
Researcher, academic
Japan
I NEED
I am good for now beacause of state financial aid for tourist bussineses. (October, 2020)
Student
Croatia
SOLUTIONS
We are solving this bad season by organizing trips and holidays in Slovenia, Croatia, Greece and Italy. (September, 2020)
Tourism employee
Slovenia
EXPLOITATION
Social media influencers using it for attention; politicians making speeches to further their own agendas and blame various other parties instead of taking responsibility. Others whom are price gouging, being rude and inconsiderate, unfortunately this list goes on and on and on. (March, 2020)
Student
United States
OTHER / SPOTTED
Whilst this is major setback for tourism as we know it and many businesses will suffer as a result, I at least hope this will present an opportunity for the industry to change for the better. A more sustainable approach to tourism is needed, perhaps this will kick start it. (May, 2020)
