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.
TOURISM MEANS
Very much, because I'm doing it my whole life, formerly employed youth tourism 7 years and now 23 years have my own agency. (June, 2020)
Tourism employee
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
Tourism is a way to see our society (and ourselves) differently. (June, 2020)
Researcher, academic
China
CHALLENGES
As a current employee in the hospitality industry, I have been forced to stop working due to the coronavirus. I was working to complete my field study at the Inn at Virginia Tech, which I was enjoying so much. Now due to the virus, I am no longer able to work and I am unsure whether I will be able to return to work in the future. (April, 2020)
Tourism employee
United States
CONCERNS
Restrictions may last for much longer than expected. (April, 2020)
Tourist
Italy
IDEAS
One idea I had was to offer a "babysitting service" for parents who had to stay at home and work. Because that would keep people who are out of work busy and it would relieve the parents for a few hours who are stuck at home with them all day.
The service would include doing homework with the children and going outside as getting infected was less likely outdoors.
Another idea I had (which other cities and countries are doing already) was to offer more home delivery services. I think in Innsbruck we lacked take away/delivery services not only from restaurants but also from bars and pubs. But also companies which normally do not offer delivery services could have adapted quicker, for example: books (Tyrolia/Wagnerische/Thalia) or wool and fabric from small shops in town. Pretty much anything that would have kept you busy and sane during lock down. Which would have also created more jobs during this crisis. (June, 2020)
Student
Austria
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
In case the idea goes through - some ways to disinfect the apartments after every guest. (April, 2020)
Tourism employee
Slovenia
SOLUTIONS
Regarding the tourism in Austria I think the best thing we can do as locals is to support the Austrian economic system. This starts with buying local products, spending "holiday" in Austria, visiting smaller restaurants or supporting smaller companies that fight to survive. (October, 2020)
Student
Austria
EXPLOITATION
The media partly exploit the situation of the pandemic to get attention and generate sales. However, the media is not aware, or perhaps unfortunately they are - even sadder that this hype in the media - can make the population sick. (October, 2020)
Student
Austria
OTHER / SPOTTED
I think that every organization/company... should start to prepare some kind of plan. They should try to adapt and work from home, come up with alternatives so they don't completely lose costumers/visitors...For example many museums started to offer virtual tours. (March, 2020)
