TOURISM MEANS

Crowd place. (April, 2020)

Student

China

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

I’m a bit scared that even after the pandemic some people might find socializing, especially with foreigners, a little off putting. So my main concern is not being able to experience the social life of a city in its full glory, when people aren’t afraid of human contact and getting to know travelers. (April, 2020)

Student

Slovenia

IDEAS

In one of the President's COVID-19 Press Conferences, Trump had thrown around the idea of businesses being able to fully deduct dining and food expenses. I believe this could be an interesting idea to pursue. Currently, dining and food expenses incurred by businesses can be deducted by 50% as long as they meet certain requirements (cannot be overly extravagant, etc.). If this deductible percentage was increased, it could help to jump start the recovery of the hospitality and tourism industry by incentivizing business meals and group business. A similar case can be made for travel expenses.

Of course, there are ethical implications associated with potential to abuse the system which will need to be weighed. I recommend the spending must meet the current deduction requirements or possibly impose a spending ceiling.

Resources:

https://www.thetaxadviser.com/issues/2020/jan/business-meal-expense-deduction-tcja.html

https://markjkohler.com/writing-off-dining-and-food-expenses/ (April, 2020)

Student

United States

I CAN OFFER

As a tourism student, I can currently contribute to the renovation of tourism by helping with various tourism-related projects where I feel I can contribute. (April, 2020)

Student

Slovenia

I NEED

We do not need special resources, only normal conditions that will allow travel. (August, 2020)

Tourism employee

Slovenia

SOLUTIONS

Building accommodation infrastructure for which the access is designed to be separate for each room, precisely to avoid the common closed spaces. (July, 2020)

Tourism business representative

Romania

EXPLOITATION

I think it is insane that you have to pay over €90 to get tested for COVID 19. There are a lot of people who cannot afford it especially when they were put on "Kurzarbeit" or lost their job. I think everyone should be able to get tested for free. (June, 2020)

Student

Austria

OTHER / SPOTTED

#Coronavirus – How is the Industry reacting?

This article presents how tourism companies react to the coronavirus. Some companies use technologies to recover from the crisis. Many countries are offering the potential travelers to visit some tourism destinations and attractions via virtual reality. For example Japan, Brasil, Malta, Berlin, Montreal, Israel, Portland, Philadelphia, #greecefromhome, #austrianhomestories etc.

https://www.thinkdigital.travel/opinion/coronavirus-how-is-the-industry-reacting/ (April, 2020)

Student

Czech Republic