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.
OTHER / SPOTTED
Locals: we all find out plenty of local farmers and other stakeholders in our area in those days. Connect with them, think how to include their products in you offer and how to support your local community in those days. Be an active member and make small actions to help. We are all members of the same destination and together we are stronger. (April, 2020)
Tourism business representative
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 is the most important thing in life. Without tourism, my family would not have work in our valley and probably they had to move to a bigger city to find new work. Tourism guarantees us a high standard of living in the most beautiful places on Earth. (June, 2020)
Student
Italy
CHALLENGES
As a current employee in the hospitality industry, I have been forced to stop working due to the coronavirus. I was working to complete my field study at the Inn at Virginia Tech, which I was enjoying so much. Now due to the virus, I am no longer able to work and I am unsure whether I will be able to return to work in the future. (April, 2020)
Tourism employee
United States
CONCERNS
Many enterprises are loosing big amounts of money due to the fact they are not producing but they are still paying probably some fixed costs their enterprises may have. So, after this they will probably not think about how the planet has improved in terms of sustainability but how much money they lost and how can they gain it back the easiest and fastest way as possible instead of doing it in the most sustainable way as possible for helping the planet. (April, 2020)
Student
Spain
IDEAS
1) Get connected - even with "enemies" - in your destination. The weakest determines the faith of all players of a destination in a pandemic situation.
2) Get digital - digitalization helps to make tourism resilient.
3) Get human - do not focus on profit, focus on customers.
4) Create experiences instead of money traps. (May, 2020)
Researcher, academic
Germany
I CAN OFFER
I can keep people company or help them with basic info about how to use electronic devices to keep in touch with friend and relatives. (April, 2020)
Student
Slovenia
I NEED
We need tourists. Or help to find a digital way of earning money on what we do. (April, 2020)
Tourism business representative
Sweden
SOLUTIONS
Protect the resource at all costs. If communities and the attraction (I'm thinking here wildlife) isn't benefiting then it's time to re-consider new options. (April, 2020)
Researcher, academic
Canada
EXPLOITATION
Global airlines and hotels holding back payments or only providing credits to customers, yet laying people off, and seeking bailouts. (April, 2020)
Researcher, academic
Canada
OTHER / SPOTTED
I think that every organization/company... should start to prepare some kind of plan. They should try to adapt and work from home, come up with alternatives so they don't completely lose costumers/visitors...For example many museums started to offer virtual tours. (March, 2020)
