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.
CONCERNS
My concern is that after COVID-19 pandemic accessibility to culture and heritage will be limited with negative consequences especially for more vulnerable visitors, including people with disabilities. Too often these visitors are already excluded from their right “freely to participate in the cultural life of the community and to enjoy the arts” (Article 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights). (May, 2020)
Researcher, academic
Italy
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
What I love about travelling is the feeling I get every time, when I’m off to a new trip, and excitement about discovering new destinations, learning about different cultures, meeting new people and escaping from reality and turning off our everyday lifestyle. (May, 2020)
Student
Serbia
CHALLENGES
[Professor] To prepare my students for a post-COVID-19 world. (May, 2020)
Researcher, academic
Germany
CONCERNS
When In London it was only a few weeks into this pandemic. It was actually right before it became a pandemic. When we were there we were very cautious when we were in public. Especially when we were trying to leave we were concerned about going to Heathrow because it is one of the busiest airports in the world. We were also concerned about using public transportation because that is how we would get around to all of our destinations. (April, 2020)
Tourist
United States
IDEAS
Currently only thinking how to save the company before bankrupt. Maybe focusing to domestic market with attractive offers, packages in connection with local agencies. Focusing to some other markets, which were not before main markets for our city. Offer full digital support to customers on your own websites and other digital resources. (April, 2020)
Tourism or convention office, event organizer
Slovenia
I CAN OFFER
The best resource I can offer to others is the power to brainstorm new ideas to improve the service processes in our tourism facilities. Just with a lot of innovation and new ways of service it is possible to reach the end with a success and not become a victim of it. (June, 2020)
Student
Italy
I NEED
It would be nice to hear more ideas and support from professors at my institution as well as other institutions that are leaders in hospitality/tourism and/or business in how to react in these times (i.e. Cornell, HBS, Michigan State, etc.). (April, 2020)
Student
United States
SOLUTIONS
Group trips of up to 10 passengers within the EU.
Tailored travel programs for individual travelers. (August, 2020)
Tourism employee
Slovenia
EXPLOITATION
Global airlines and hotels holding back payments or only providing credits to customers, yet laying people off, and seeking bailouts. (April, 2020)
Researcher, academic
Canada
OTHER / SPOTTED
We need to raise more awareness about the 'Anthropocene' and the need to move to a form of ecological tourism. (July, 2020)
