TOURISM MEANS

Once someone said that travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer, and I couldn’t agree more. Because, to me, travel means to live fully, to accept others, to learn in every area you can and to allow the world to shape you into the best person you can truly be. (April, 2020)

Student

Bosnia Herzegovina

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

CONCERNS

I do 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, just that this summer likely won't come. But at the macro level, tourism should return to its old path. How long it will take is difficult to predict. What I can predict, however, is that, like anything, this crisis will bring some changes. There will now be a lot of room for innovation in current work processes. (April, 2020)

Student

Slovenia

IDEAS

One idea I had was to offer a "babysitting service" for parents who had to stay at home and work. Because that would keep people who are out of work busy and it would relieve the parents for a few hours who are stuck at home with them all day.

The service would include doing homework with the children and going outside as getting infected was less likely outdoors.

Another idea I had (which other cities and countries are doing already) was to offer more home delivery services. I think in Innsbruck we lacked take away/delivery services not only from restaurants but also from bars and pubs. But also companies which normally do not offer delivery services could have adapted quicker, for example: books (Tyrolia/Wagnerische/Thalia) or wool and fabric from small shops in town. Pretty much anything that would have kept you busy and sane during lock down. Which would have also created more jobs during this crisis. (June, 2020)

Student

Austria

I CAN OFFER

With my studies, I can help to improvise plans and help with getting the wheels rolling again after this all stops. Hopefully someone will hire me so I can help. (April, 2020)

Student

Iceland

I NEED

Government help, compensation for cancelled events, financial support for digital transformation. (April, 2020)

Tourism or convention office, event organizer

Slovenia

SOLUTIONS

Creating new programs and business solutions for small owners that need an extra boost. Sort of a platform for revitalization, shift, changing mind patterns of business owners and transforming them into new stories adapting the situations. (March, 2020)

Tourism business representative

Slovenia

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

Strategy for opening: personalize your offer. Think about how people will travel and plan how to highlight your strengths. Who will be your buyer? Prepare new experiences for individuals or really small groups involving the locals. (April, 2020)

Tourism business representative

Slovenia