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.
IDEAS
Reach out to personal connections or recruiters on LinkedIn looking for opportunities for remote, unpaid work to gain experience and to professors about unpaid/not-for-credit undergraduate research opportunities. (April, 2020)
Student
United States
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
A way to grow, explore, learn. A way to observe the ways others do things or on the other hand why or what is different and why. It has always been the best means of growth for me. (April, 2020)
Tourist
Slovenia
CHALLENGES
Regarding the idea of perpetuating cleaning and security measures in the food and beverage industry, I put myself in the consumer’s shoes – even if in the past the decision to return to a tourist destination was not directly influenced by this aspect, I believe that in the future cleanliness and security will play a decisive role for the holiday option. (July, 2020)
Tourism business representative
Romania
CONCERNS
The unemployment rate is extremely high during the COVID-19 period. This industry may prefer employees with decades of practical experience instead of graduates with a high-level educational background, let alone in the pandemic period. Such a phenomenon arouses people's bias in working in this industry - job discrimination existed - In many Asian countries, parents won't suggest their kids work for a hotel (not a "decent" job + low salaries/wages) comparing to studying engineer/medicine/CS, etc. (April, 2020)
Student
United States
IDEAS
Take this time to learn, tourism is so important industry and it has countries running only from tourism. Is that what we really want? That is definitely not sustainable way of running a country. Also. Here in Iceland..... tourism companies are lowering their prices, that means FINALLY icelanders can travel in their own country. It was so extreamly expenisve to travel in my own country that I could rather just go to another country and that would have been cheaper. Just think about it. It is crazy that local people can't afford traveling in their own county, right? (April, 2020)
Student
Iceland
I CAN OFFER
I do not have any resources at the moment, as I do not see adequate resources in this situation to save tourism. (July, 2020)
Tourism employee
Slovenia
I NEED
Advocacy and research to examine the extend to which local operators are good for local economies and data mining to determine the degree of public funding going to non-local businesses and myriad of funding eligibility rules across the circumpolar world. Perhaps our jurisdiction could learn from others. (April, 2020)
Tourism business representative
Canada
SOLUTIONS
I am a good communicator so I could talk to those who feel lonely at the time, I can provide any kind of creative work if needed or health care for those in need. (April, 2020)
Student
Slovenia
EXPLOITATION
Tourist vouchers should also be redeemable in travel agencies, restaurants, museums and national parks. Now some providers are earning a lot, while others are in red numbers.. (August, 2020)
Tourism employee
Slovenia
OTHER / SPOTTED
Communicate: build up your digital community now! Talk to you guests of tomorrow, contact the loyal guests and ask how are they doing. They will really appreciate it. Encourage people to stay home today and travel tomorrow. Share positive messages and make people dream about your destination. (April, 2020)
