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
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
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
Observance of safety standards when organizing excursions. Frightened passengers who are afraid to travel due to a virus infection. They are also afraid that they will have to be quarantined when they return to their homeland. (August, 2020)
Tourism employee
Slovenia
CONCERNS
My biggest concern is being able to find a job during this time of crisis due to the economy being in a recession. Across the globe hospitality companies are laying off employees and are in a hiring freeze. Due to this the possibility of me finding a job right now is very low. I am very nervous about this uncertain future and I am concerned that I may not find a job for a long time. (April, 2020)
Tourism employee
United States
IDEAS
The current inability to meet physically will place a future premium on face to face meetings, especially if these decline in frequency. We wil probably see a rise in digital meetings (particularly now everybody is on Zoom), and people will start to use physical meetings not just as a way to have face to face experiences, but also to escape the tyranny of omnipresent digital meetings. (May, 2020)
Researcher, academic
Netherlands
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
Some resources I need are some positive statistics about the coronavirus that can help keep people's heads high. (April, 2020)
Local resident
United States
SOLUTIONS
Take care of your employees, customers, and business partners, foster an atmosphere of trust and use the time to foster a growth mindset as well as offer (cross-)trainings, webinars, explore ideas of your employees (May, 2020)
Tourism business representative
Germany
EXPLOITATION
Social media influencers using it for attention; politicians making speeches to further their own agendas and blame various other parties instead of taking responsibility. Others whom are price gouging, being rude and inconsiderate, unfortunately this list goes on and on and on. (March, 2020)
Student
United States
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)
