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.
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
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 for me means to travel and see new places in the first place. Whether I’m only visiting a nice village or a city in Austria for a couple of days or take a trip around the world for a longer time, tourism is a way to explore. The other big part of tourism is to get to know new people, new cultures and explore different styles of living. Since I myself am a huge fan of travelling and experience as much as possible, tourism is a key thing in my life and hopefully will never get lost in those times. (October, 2020)
Student
Austria
CHALLENGES
Normally I earn most of my money during the winter season. This year I could just work half-season until everything shut down. Now for my and my family, the biggest challenge is for sure to find new ways to earn enough money also during this crisis. (June, 2020)
Student
Italy
CONCERNS
The Austrian economy cannot cope with another lockdown, and tourism in particular. If winter tourism fails to appear, many hotels will not survive. Travel abroad is associated with risks because of Covid-19. (June, 2020)
Student
Austria
IDEAS
I want hotel companies such as Wyndham, Hilton, and Marriott to start implementing their brand standard cleaning techniques for this virus (maybe even an industry-standard if feasible). The procedure for cleaning guest rooms may have to change. Rather than going with the current method of cleaning one room at a time, It would be feasible first to remove dirty linens and trash from all dirty rooms first. After housekeepers should wipe all surfaces with disinfectant chemicals and then move onto the bathroom to disinfect all areas (including the shower). Rigorous cleaning techniques need to be in place now, more significant than ever before. Housekeepers should then wash their hands accordingly before touching the clean linen and placing them in the guest rooms. I believe employees should have gloves and a face mask at all times. A more extreme but cautious requirement would be for employees to wash their hands every hour on the clock, whether they just washed their hands or not, a fixed element. (March, 2020)
Tourism business representative
United States
I CAN OFFER
Resources that each of us can contribute is humanity. It is important that even in such difficult times as these, no one forgets about the other. And because I am still quite young and fit, I can try to help others who are not doing so well as much as possible with all the possibilities I have. (December, 2020)
We need an effective vaccine that will protect the population and allow it to travel normally. (August, 2020)
Tourism employee
Slovenia
EXPLOITATION
The protests of stay in place orders. (April, 2020)
Student
United States
OTHER / SPOTTED
Prepare for the opening: prepare a protocol. How will you welcome your guests tomorrow; which standards will you have to follow to guarantee safety; how will you adapt to the »new reality«; where will you put the hand disinfection gel? These are some questions to answer to make feel the guest secure and safety at your place. (April, 2020)
