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 biggest concern is whether I will be able to find a job after college. Everybody knows that the hospitality industry is one of the main industry's that is feeling the effects of COVID-19. I am really worried that as a graduating senior that I will have a tough time finding a job when the economy is in a recession. The uncertainty of this virus has forced the hospitality industry into a hiring freeze. Due to this I am unsure how long it will take me to find a job after I graduate this May. (April, 2020)
Student
United States
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Tourism business representative
Bosnia Herzegovina
Tourist
Singapore
Tourism business representative
Slovakia
#From Instagram
TOURISM MEANS
To live... to be free and explore the world. (April, 2020)
Student
Germany
CHALLENGES
Challenges I faced had a lot to do with the closing of borders and travel restrictions. It was not possible to travel to other countries even if it feels like your own. For me there was no border between Bavaria and Austria and it didn't feel any different being in Germany. Suddenly there was a border and it was not possible to go hiking anymore where you always went. Also going to your own flat in Italy was not possible anymore. It felt like somebody locked you out of your own apartment. (September, 2020)
Student
Austria
CONCERNS
The biggest concern I have is about the upcoming tourist season, since our apartments are already booked for whole june, july, august and september. If things still aren't settled in june, we will be forced to return the pre-payments for the apartments that usually help us during out-of season. (April, 2020)
Tourism employee
Slovenia
IDEAS
Covid tests for everyone at home to make sure you can go out without the risk to infect other people. (December, 2020)
Student
Austria
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
As I do understand that understanding topics we take them at school is important, we should take this opportunity for the whole tourism sector to step together and create a good set of actions. As there would be actions taken from an actions such as recommended, we would have an opportunity to change an educating system as well, as we all know, it needs an upgrade. Students (from what we talk to each other) would like to be present at resolving actual current problems more, as some teachers already are taking these actions (for example giving students to write, think and evolve solutions to the actual problems happening in present time). (April, 2020)
Tourism employee
Slovenia
SOLUTIONS
Moving forward, I believe all hospitality companies from the executives to the property GM should have a detailed plan on how to adapt their businesses during pandemics. This will not be the last time we face a problem like this. (March, 2020)
Student
United States
EXPLOITATION
There have been cases I heard of where companies would apply for financial support from the government, even though they where not entitled to get it and had no real need for it. (June, 2020)
Student
Austria
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)
