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.
I NEED
I think that in the current situation we need in particular some workshops on current topics in tourism, as well as mentoring. Of course, the opportunity to gain experience in tourism companies. (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
Leisure time and learning from new places and people. (April, 2020)
Tourist
Italy
CHALLENGES
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)
Student
Austria
CONCERNS
Employees need protection but have no way to social distance without effectively completing the given work related tasks. The risks are taken due to hotels being an essential business. Some hotels have closed while others aren't, it is decided on a case by case basis by the ownership and local government. (April, 2020)
Tourism employee
United States
IDEAS
Some ideas I have during this time are using media platforms to engage like groups who are in the same situation. Such as making a blog or page for graduating seniors, college students, unemployed of different age ranges, employers in hospitality etc... This way, we can get a group mind to best figure how to navigate the challenges each unique group is experiencing, while also acting as a social outlet providing much needed human interaction. This would help better everyone as whole, and is similar to what Tourism From Zero is doing right now, except all submissions/discussions would be open to the public. (April, 2020)
Student
United States
I CAN OFFER
Organization of private tours, where we follow all health&safety recommendations. Hotel reservation, travel recommendations, organization of "self drive" tour. (July, 2020)
Tourism business representative
Slovenia
I NEED
Perhaps creating a small, inspired group of us for idea sharing, innovation and fostering creative thinking as we are all, in one way or the other, locked into the square box thinking (May, 2020)
Researcher, academic
Croatia
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
EXPLOITATION
Criminals phishing company details to claim subsidies entitled for small businesses in various states of Germany. (May, 2020)
Researcher, academic
Germany
OTHER / SPOTTED
Allow free travel insurance, people are afraid to book because they feel the risk to have their trip cancelled. (April, 2020)
