TOURISM MEANS

Travelling takes you out of your comfort zone. It makes you see the world differently, not just out of your own little box. It makes you grow as a person. You are never the same after you have experienced the soul of another place and it's locals. And I think that is the magic of travel. (April, 2020)

Student

Slovenia

CHALLENGES

What probably challenged me the most was reducing social contacts and interactions with friends or family members. After that long time I even started missing going to university, while working from home in front of your laptop. (October, 2020)

Student

Austria

CONCERNS

Even as we overcome this state of emergency, I do not expect tourism to blossom right away. People will have concerns. Initially It may happen that trips to European capitals suffer a decrease. People will prefer to travel shorter distances by car, and they will primarily seek peace, a pleasant climate and contact with the natural environment. It is good that Slovenia offers plenty of that. (April, 2020)

Student

Slovenia

IDEAS

Gov'ts will be facing budget deficits in coming years and tourism programs may be impacted. Right now tour operators are emerging across the circumpolar world. They are often competing against larger, more established operators from the outside. I think it's important to look at eligibility requirements for gov't funding, and that regional funding be directed towards Arctic-based operators, as they are the smallest and most vulnerable. This is not the case in all circumpolar jurisdictions. We should use scarce public resources to support local tourism industries. (April, 2020)

Tourism business representative

Canada

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

Get in contact with universities and people who wants to travel (May, 2020)

Tourism employee

United Kingdom

SOLUTIONS

Due to the current situation the idea of vegetable crates was born in Salzburg, which are delivered home - contactless:

https://www.fraeuleinflora.at/salzburg/gemuese-abo-kiste-salzburg/

There are other initiatives in Austria, which exist due to corona:

https://www.derstandard.at/story/2000116464066/initiativen-in-der-coronakrise-anker-fuer-den-alltag (October, 2020)

Student

Austria

EXPLOITATION

Some companies, especially in the medical and hygiene sector, have certainly been able to use the pandemic to their advantage. (October, 2020)

Student

Austria

OTHER / SPOTTED

This article forecasts on how tourism lies in the future due to the Covid19 pandemic.

To support their tourism sectors, the article highlights that in essence, domestic travel and tourism will be expected to substitute foreign tourism demand. Additionally, the governments will support travel and tourism sectors more directly through bailout packages. In the future the article states that at the beginning, countries may require a COVID-19 free certificate. If it becomes evident that COVID-19 survivors become immune to subsequent infections and transmissions, an immunity certificate for example Yellow Fever booklet, the article suggested that may become a requirement for both outward and inward travel, improving visa application processes and make them online and also issuing immunity passports so people can leave the lock down early.

https://www.unescap.org/blog/future-tourism-post-covid-19 (April, 2020)

Student

Italy