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.
I NEED
We need a virus vaccine as soon as possible. We need to stop the spread of the virus so that we can travel and live as we once did. (August, 2020)
Tourism employee
Slovenia
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 means exploring new countries and places. Personally I don't refer to myself as a tourist when im going to other places. I would say im more like a visitor. I feel like being a tourist has some kind of a bad stigma. I know how it feels if you see more tourists in your city than locals. Thats why I try to not to behave as a tourist when im on vacation. Tourism also plays a big role in the creation and conservation of jobs. So in some way it also feels like a secure and steady income source for a lot of people. (September, 2020)
Student
Austria
CHALLENGES
Tourism is an extremely sensitive activity, which is affected by various phenomena: natural disasters, weather influences, unfavorable political situations, religious tensions, pandemics, epidemics. Therefore, it is necessary to constantly adapt in this industry, which is easier in smaller tourism companies. (August, 2020)
Tourism employee
Slovenia
CONCERNS
I am currently concerned with the timeline. The hospitality and tourism industry will take some time to recover, but there are contrasting views on how quickly the industry will recover. Some have more bullish views and believe that once an "all-clear" is issued we will have an influx of discretionary income spending from "stir-crazy" individuals. Others have more bearish views and believe that the risk aversion associated with the Coronavirus will have a more prolonged effect even after an "all-clear" is issued. (April, 2020)
Student
United States
IDEAS
Collaboration - I think sanitation and personal touch will become even more important. I want to see the industry work with environmentally friendly and sustainable companies to promote a sustainable and clean future. There are so many companies that hotels can work with to lower their carbon footprint and be clean and safe. EX: The honest Co. Mrs. Meyers, etcc... (April, 2020)
Student
United States
I CAN OFFER
Social (online) support! As mentioned previously, providing social interaction through technology and media platforms greatly helps and keeps everyones mind busy while providing social interaction to ease the lockdown induced loneliness. I would also be able to provide the resource of shopping for the elderly in my community, which I have done twice this previous month, in order to allow the elderly to stay home and get safely delivered food and not have to possible expose themselves to the virus. Anything we can do to help everyone struggling to get through this time. (April, 2020)
Student
United States
I NEED
Till we get an idea of what will be allowed and under what terms it is hard to know resources needed we can only speculate. Maybe it would be god to ask people if they would we willing to travel if 1) quarantine in place 2) only social distancing in place and other questions that we have but I think this is up to regulators - country to make that steps. (April, 2020)
Tourism employee
Slovenia
SOLUTIONS
Everyone can show everyone that renunciation is possible and necessary in this situation. Meanwhile, you can put your money into small businesses to keep the economy running, even if it is only for one take away dinner. (April, 2020)
Student
Germany
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
It is my opinion, that now we have time to prepare fresh trip ideas and new routes, for ourselves or for others, if we work in a travel agency and so when all this is over, we will be able to offer something new, innovative and different to tourists. (March, 2020)
