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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::
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.
My biggest concern is how some people handle this whole pandemic. Sorry to say that but I think it is pathetic that there are people out there, who are seriously comparing our situation now with the situation people had to face during the World War two. Our situation nowadays is nothing compared to the situation back then. Now the world has to fight a virus, back then they had to fight man against man. I´m quite sure, that none of us can even imagine how horrible this time was and I´m quite sure that none of us wants to know. If I´m being honest a comparison like this is embarrassing and very disrespectful. (December, 2020)
As tourist: It's a way to learn about new places, people, their costumes, ... and to enjoy new experiences and relax. Bussines: It offers good business opportunities and wide creative space. (April, 2020)
I have lost my job at a hotel in March at the beginning of the crisis. Now during summer I am going to work at a surfing school and I am not sure if there are going to be enough guests and how it is possible to work there with the students respecting the hygiene concepts. But it was also hard to study during the crisis because we did not have any course at university but only online. It was hard for me to stay focused at these times and not seeing my friends and colleges to get physical support. Furthermore, it was difficult for me that our freedom got limited and we could not move like we usually do. (June, 2020)
My biggest concern is, that the infections are starting to rise again. In case that will happen I fear that the borders will be closed again and we can´t start our semester at university. (June, 2020)
- Event planners could get certifications in event planning to showcase their expertise to boost their chances of being hired (The Bridal Society offers certifications in Wedding Planning and Wedding Design online (these are not free)). (April, 2020)
Social (online) support! As mentioned previously, providing social interaction through technology and media platforms greatly helps and keeps everyones mind busy while providing social interaction to ease the lockdown induced loneliness. I would also be able to provide the resource of shopping for the elderly in my community, which I have done twice this previous month, in order to allow the elderly to stay home and get safely delivered food and not have to possible expose themselves to the virus. Anything we can do to help everyone struggling to get through this time. (April, 2020)
Global trends including European tourism ones
Advanced cases on sustainable tourism coping with COVID (June, 2020)
Not specifically, but it's crucial to use the right psychological procedures (right words, slogans, music, messages) in marketing purposes. The goal of that would be managing crowds of people (tourists) in order to diminish their anxiety, fear of other people and travelling around. (April, 2020)
Some companies, especially in the medical and hygiene sector, have certainly been able to use the pandemic to their advantage. (October, 2020)
Home entertainment by the hand of tourism enterprises
This article explains that many tourism enterprises are keeping the contact with their clients, creating activities for kids and adults to help them go through these hard quarantine times. But, why do they do it if it is not their job?
The idea is keep in touch with the clients, even if they are not going to book anything with them right now, to remind clients that they will still be there when the things get stabilized, clients will remember them and start booking again. It is a long view strategy, but I think it is a smart movement from tourism enterprises instead of being just observers of the disaster.
See the original file here: https://www.hosteltur.com/135925_entretenimiento-en-casa-de-la-mano-de-las-empresas-turisticas.html (April, 2020)