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
I want to choose a traditional and local apartment to live in, where has a guidance for the local restaurant, local food market, and the local events. And gunidance details is full of price, routine and schedule which was prepared for the tourists. (April, 2020)
We lost about one month of our most busy season, thats a huge lost of money. For a small and pretty new business there is no savings, we did a big investment last summer and then we really needed the season to go on as planned. Our biggest challenge right now is to survive. In this strange situation we don´t know anything, will there be a summer season with tourists? How will the next winter be? How are we gonna plan? Do we need to sell away a lot of eqipment to lower our costs and then maybe don´t have enough capacity for next winter? To not know when this will end is the worst part. (April, 2020)
Tourism business representative
Sweden
CONCERNS
I am concerned for the hospitality industry as a whole. I am concerned that this pandemic will make people to cautious to the point where they won't venture out. I also am scared that people are going to financially unstable for a while, therefore resulting in no one spending money at local businesses. (April, 2020)
Local resident
United States
IDEAS
Finding unknown path and parts of solitude, detoxing etc. has been an emerging trend for the last couple of years and I do believe this is a way we could be able to deal with current situation. Slovenia still has lots of unpopulated and secluded areas that could be a great resource to start working on secluded and off the grid holiday packages that are more connected with local experiences and general well being. I believe back to nature should be one of our primary focus during the upcoming tourism season and creating a bond between lesser people that includes spiritual, sport, culture and creative ways of spending time outdoors. We always considered outdoors as being only a spiritual and sports related free time activities, but culture should start being one of the vocal points that should be included in this spectrum now. (March, 2020)
Tourism business representative
Slovenia
I CAN OFFER
Data on youth travel responses to Covid 19 - now being published with WYSE Travel Confederation. (May, 2020)
Researcher, academic
Netherlands
I NEED
I think our company needs a good and positive employee force, including maintaining good HR practices and encouragement to give employees. Personally, the company also needs a plan from our boss going forward (as hard and uncertain as the world is making that on him). (April, 2020)
Tourism employee
United States
SOLUTIONS
Review how a fine dining restaurant rely on their sense of quality and care to give confidence e.g. Aimsir 2 Michelan Star Restaurant www.aimsir.ie (May, 2020)
Researcher, academic
Ireland {Republic}
EXPLOITATION
Tourist vouchers should also be redeemable in travel agencies, restaurants, museums and national parks. Now some providers are earning a lot, while others are in red numbers.. (August, 2020)
Tourism employee
Slovenia
OTHER / SPOTTED
We need to raise more awareness about the 'Anthropocene' and the need to move to a form of ecological tourism. (July, 2020)
