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

There are changing travel conditions and challenging times if you want to travel. But there are also cuttings in your personal life, like the university life. I haven't seen my colleagues from university since February. The learning from home is challenging because no one could tell you how you should do it, its new for everyone. At work, we had short-time work for about half a year, and we still don't know what happens next. (October, 2020)

Student

Austria

CONCERNS

Will I be able to adopt to new reality, how long it will take before people will start to travel again? (April, 2020)

Tourism business representative

Slovenia

IDEAS

The extra time students hopefully have during quarantine could be used for the following things:

- Complete projects (even if they’re not assigned by school) to demonstrate different facets of my skill set, for example, publishing a paper or article on LinkedIn analyzing the economic impacts of COVID-19 on a specific hospitality company (such as Marriott, Disney, Carnival, etc.), including suggestions for recovery.

- Get certifications or complete LinkedIn Learning classes to demonstrate interest and/or expertise in a certain skill, ex) Google AdWords, Cvent, Microsoft Suite, etc.

- Create a digital portfolio showcasing accomplishments during college.

- Learn an in-demand skill that is relevant to companies that are not being as terribly impacted as the hospitality and tourism industry. For example, learning coding languages, as IT is a needed skill presently to support means of digital connection. (April, 2020)

Student

United States

I CAN OFFER

During this time, our company is continuing to do a little "catch-up" and behind the scenes work. This includes spicing up our website (and the property's websites) to attract guests for after quarantine and freshening up our restaurants' menus. Corporate employees are also brain-storming special deals and offers for after quarantine as well. (April, 2020)

Tourism employee

United States

I NEED

Until people start traveling again, we need financial support from the state or the European Union so that the company does not go bankrupt. (September, 2020)

Tourism employee

Slovenia

SOLUTIONS

Rather than always relying on trustful recources and trying to keep cool in such times I don’t have more solutions to offer. Life is always a tough place and I admire all the people who still try their best in those times. I think everyone of us should try to make the best of their lifes whether circumstances are good or bad. Only this way, we can move forward. (October, 2020)

Student

Austria

EXPLOITATION

The protests of stay in place orders. (April, 2020)

Student

United States

OTHER / SPOTTED

It's been about 30 years since I started this job. I have experienced the collapse of the Internet bubble, the Lehman shock, the Great East Japan Earthquake, and so on. Marketing techniques such as sales measures, cost control, and attracting customers during these times are the know-how of tourism that cannot be learned in normal times. (June, 2020)

Researcher, academic

Japan