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.
CHALLENGES
During the pandemic I followed the trend of the COVID data and read various articles referring to the forecasts for an economic recovery. I found interesting ideas from Croatian, Italian, Slovenian, Austrian and English articles. Each state had visions but in reality no one has a crystal ball to predict the future. For the moment it will be very difficult to start again. People are divided into two groups, those who are so afraid and would like everyone to stay at home and those who want to go out and continue living normal life as before- (May, 2020)
Local resident
Italy
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 is an economic activity essentially related with destinations within countries, regions, etc. If managed in a positive way it can have a good impact in local and national economy. (April, 2020)
Local resident
Portugal
CHALLENGES
As an inbound adventure tour operator, the ban on international challenge presented the most immediate challenge with booking cancellations and postponements. Now, as we prepare to relax lockdown restrictions, the challenge is to provide travel experiences that enable guests to travel with us safely and to ensure the continued safety of the communities we visit. (May, 2020)
Tourism business representative
United Kingdom
CONCERNS
At first, of course, I was worried about my health. Nobody knew what was going to happen and therefore they had respect for this pandemic and I hoped that nobody from my circle of friends and family would get infected. But then I heard from friends who were infected that it was not bad for them at all and the flu was often stronger. From then on I was more worried about the economy and how to get out of this lockdown as debt-free as possible (June, 2020)
Student
Austria
IDEAS
New safety standards will need to be developed to protect tourists and travel workers on their travels. A new way of traveling is definitely waiting for us in the future. (August, 2020)
Tourism employee
Slovenia
I CAN OFFER
Information on travel safety in various countries, which are currently open to foreign tourists and integrated travel organization. (September, 2020)
Tourism employee
Slovenia
I NEED
Till we get an idea of what will be allowed and under what terms it is hard to know resources needed we can only speculate. Maybe it would be god to ask people if they would we willing to travel if 1) quarantine in place 2) only social distancing in place and other questions that we have but I think this is up to regulators - country to make that steps. (April, 2020)
Tourism employee
Slovenia
SOLUTIONS
Rather than always relying on trustful recources and trying to keep cool in such times I don’t have more solutions to offer. Life is always a tough place and I admire all the people who still try their best in those times. I think everyone of us should try to make the best of their lifes whether circumstances are good or bad. Only this way, we can move forward. (October, 2020)
Student
Austria
EXPLOITATION
Criminals phishing company details to claim subsidies entitled for small businesses in various states of Germany. (May, 2020)
Researcher, academic
Germany
OTHER / SPOTTED
I think that the fact tourism is highly affected is not that big of the problem. Yes it’s true that people won’t travel during the epidemic, but when everything is over, people will travel again, they won’t just stop. Maybe this is a great chance for everybody to see how much we all can do to help restore Earth, not just in tourism, but in the whole industry sector. (March, 2020)
