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.
SOLUTIONS
Protect the resource at all costs. If communities and the attraction (I'm thinking here wildlife) isn't benefiting then it's time to re-consider new options. (April, 2020)
Researcher, academic
Canada
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
Evasion from daily routine. (April, 2020)
Tourist
Italy
CHALLENGES
Travel cancellations by passengers. We are not currently receiving any new bookings. (July, 2020)
Tourism employee
Slovenia
CONCERNS
Cashflow is a major concern, as with any business, as well as the health of our employees and business partners. (May, 2020)
Tourism business representative
United Kingdom
IDEAS
I think it would be very good for catering businesses to expand their business on the internet, as the current situation is quite controlling in showing how untapped the network is in our daily lives. In my opinion, it is necessary to use technology in tourism companies, but at the same time to create businesses based on protection nature. By that, I mean to decrease pollution or transport vehicles could use electricity as fuel. I think it would be good to develop tourist activities in unknown destinations as well since it is essential to reduce mass tourism in very well-known destinations. Travel guides have a great opportunity to offer their skills to tourists through online applications. It seems to me that when renovating a tourist activity, we must keep in mind nature conservation and reducing the negative effects, not only money. (April, 2020)
Student
Slovenia
I CAN OFFER
Relationships with Japanese art-tourism practitioners.
Networking to Japanese service researchers.
Collaborative (virtual/ real) place with industrial association people. (June, 2020)
Researcher, academic
Japan
I NEED
Multi sector collaboration to collect data. (April, 2020)
Researcher, academic
Japan
SOLUTIONS
For me the best solution at that time was simply to make the best of it and rethink my lifestyle. I realized how important social contacts are and how little we actually appreciate it. I followed the rules and in the end I can say that I did everything I could to get through the pandemic quickly. (December, 2020)
Student
Austria
EXPLOITATION
Some companies, especially in the medical and hygiene sector, have certainly been able to use the pandemic to their advantage. (October, 2020)
Student
Austria
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)
