TOURISM MEANS

The thing about travel that leaves the biggest impression on me is definitely just the general vibe/feel you get from a place, not necessarily the main tourist attractions, museums, etc...I think that most of the feeling you get from a city is contributed by the locals; their lifestyle and shared values. That’s why meeting new people and getting to know more about their culture and outlook on life is the thing I’m most excited for when traveling. (April, 2020)

Student

Slovenia

CHALLENGES

Declining demand, late bookings. Before the virus, we made reservations a few months earlier, but today customers book a holiday just before departure, so it is always difficult to fulfill all customers' wishes. (July, 2020)

Tourism employee

Slovenia

CONCERNS

I am concerned for the hospitality industry as a whole. I am concerned that this pandemic will make people to cautious to the point where they won't venture out. I also am scared that people are going to financially unstable for a while, therefore resulting in no one spending money at local businesses. (April, 2020)

Local resident

United States

IDEAS

The extra time students hopefully have during quarantine could be used for the following things:

- Complete projects (even if they’re not assigned by school) to demonstrate different facets of my skill set, for example, publishing a paper or article on LinkedIn analyzing the economic impacts of COVID-19 on a specific hospitality company (such as Marriott, Disney, Carnival, etc.), including suggestions for recovery.

- Get certifications or complete LinkedIn Learning classes to demonstrate interest and/or expertise in a certain skill, ex) Google AdWords, Cvent, Microsoft Suite, etc.

- Create a digital portfolio showcasing accomplishments during college.

- Learn an in-demand skill that is relevant to companies that are not being as terribly impacted as the hospitality and tourism industry. For example, learning coding languages, as IT is a needed skill presently to support means of digital connection. (April, 2020)

Student

United States

I CAN OFFER

Resources that each of us can contribute is humanity. It is important that even in such difficult times as these, no one forgets about the other. And because I am still quite young and fit, I can try to help others who are not doing so well as much as possible with all the possibilities I have. (December, 2020)

Student

Austria

I NEED

Another problem I see in this time is, that students are overwhelmed with work from home, which mainly consists of googling topics on the internet and describe them as i think does not fully take advantage of knowledge and ideas of students at all. (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

There have been cases I heard of where companies would apply for financial support from the government, even though they where not entitled to get it and had no real need for it. (June, 2020)

Student

Austria

OTHER / SPOTTED

Rethinking and Reinventing Travel and Tourism Post Covid-19

This article is related to tourism in Ghana but all the measures can be used in the same areas to boost the tourism industry. The author presents that mainly the domestic and regional tourism should be supported, there should be weider utilization of technologies, digital word etc. There should be smart leadership and cooperation between the tourism organisations and all the segments in the tourism industry. The protection of the environment is important and we should heed sustainability and and support it all. The selected data and analysis will be helpful to get the information and work with them, use them to get the important decisions.

https://voyagesafriq.com/2020/04/10/rethinking-and-reinventing-travel-and-tourism-post-covid-19/ (April, 2020)

Student

Czech Republic