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.
EXPLOITATION
Lots of people lose their jobs do to this crisis. Employees have to get rid of a lot of job places because they need to safe money and the people who are still working for this company get less paid than before. Lots of employees in Austria exploited the "Kurzarbeit" because they got money from the government but the workers in this company still worked the same amount of hours than before, but they got less income. (October, 2020)
Student
Austria
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
For me tourism is about traveling the world and getting to know new cultures. I do not care about fancy hotels - I want to spend my time outside a building and explore the destinations. For this, I want to be able to travel to places sustainably, and with a feeling like a local. I am a hoStel lover and love the connection with likeminded in a hostel environment. (May, 2020)
Tourism business representative
Germany
CHALLENGES
Deciding which hotel is clean and COVID-19 free is a big decision when deciding where to stay for work during this outbreak. Numerous employers still need their employees to travel for their job, while it may not have to be through airlines, traveling involves the need to stay somewhere for a short period of time. (April, 2020)
Tourist
United States
CONCERNS
What will tourism look like during the covid 19 crisis and how will we organize travel given that travel recommendations change from day to day. (July, 2020)
Tourism employee
Slovenia
IDEAS
Go digital, as much as possible. But how do we earn money on a dogsled tour digital? I am not sure. (April, 2020)
Tourism business representative
Sweden
I CAN OFFER
I'm a soccer coach for kids. Maybe I can create a practice where they still keep distance, so that we can play again. (June, 2020)
Student
Austria
I NEED
I need a good and competent team, a team that is reliable. I would like to be mutely involved in the creative work process of sustainable tourism and be heard there. Even though I am still very young for this. I think it is important that people of different ages and backgrounds work together. Through this diversity we will find the best solutions. (December, 2020)
Student
Austria
SOLUTIONS
For the individual properties, it came down to providing refunds and vouchers for another stay to guests who had already booked for the next few months, as we know they won't be allowed to come stay due to state laws. As a company, we want to keep our employees safe and healthy as well, so telling the ones who can work to work from home. Keeping honest and open communication between the higher-ups and the employees about the status of the company, their working timeline, and honestly anything they have questions and concerns about. (April, 2020)
Tourism employee
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
Whilst this is major setback for tourism as we know it and many businesses will suffer as a result, I at least hope this will present an opportunity for the industry to change for the better. A more sustainable approach to tourism is needed, perhaps this will kick start it. (May, 2020)
