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 am good for now beacause of state financial aid for tourist bussineses. (October, 2020)
Student
Croatia
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
For me tourism is about: exploring new cultures and places; Learning to see the world through new perspectives; getting away from it all; life-long memories; meeting new people; relaxing, speaking other languages, happy times with family and friends. (May, 2020)
Researcher, academic
France
CHALLENGES
Cash-flow due to plummeting demand due to global market crash, border restrictions and public health fears. (April, 2020)
Tourism business representative
Canada
CONCERNS
I am worried that executives will lay off even more employees. (August, 2020)
Tourism employee
Slovenia
IDEAS
Many beautiful and culturally rich countries aren't given this kind of attention and are completely ignored by tourists. They can be visited safely and offer unique landscapes and experiences. In Djibouti, visitors can dive with Whale Sharks, while in Central African Republic, visitors can experience the African jungle and meet the native tribes who call the region home. Sao Tome & Principe has beaches that rival the popular spots in the Caribbean, while the mountains of Tajikistan are far more breathtaking than the far more popular (and over-visited) Swiss Alps. There should be a collective effort by travel influencers, media, and anyone in the industry to promote these destinations after Covid-19. We need to let the popular Instagram-famous destinations take a break to recover and we can revisit them in the future. (April, 2020)
Tourist
United States
I CAN OFFER
Usually local operators have partnerships with other local operators - we stick together and support each other. This is true in the Northwest Territories, Canada. (April, 2020)
Tourism business representative
Canada
I NEED
We need tourists. Or help to find a digital way of earning money on what we do. (April, 2020)
Tourism business representative
Sweden
SOLUTIONS
Although I mostly organize trips abroad, I have now prepared trips around Slovenia. I would not call this a good practice, but saving the company from collapse if the crisis does not end. (August, 2020)
Tourism employee
Slovenia
EXPLOITATION
Not do much an exploitation as such, but discounting I see amongst hotels in Japan will not save the industry as it causes the Prisoner's Dilemma. Everyone could suffer as a result. (April, 2020)
Student
Japan
OTHER / SPOTTED
As tourism has stopped, I believe there is plenty of stakeholders that would agree to take Zoom meetings with students. We could then talk about their challenges, and try to innovate their processes for the future. (April, 2020)
