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.
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
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Tourism business representative
Bosnia Herzegovina
Tourist
Singapore
Tourism business representative
Slovakia
#From Instagram
TOURISM MEANS
Its my life; its the spreading of ideas and culture and my job. (April, 2020)
Student
United States
CHALLENGES
Most people pay lip service to sustainable tourism. There is too much focus on the 'cost' of sustainability, and not enough on the cost of inaction. (April, 2020)
Inventor, consultant
France
CONCERNS
That the whole world is becoming more and more virtual and many companies only rely on the online market. (December, 2020)
Student
Austria
IDEAS
I want hotel companies such as Wyndham, Hilton, and Marriott to start implementing their brand standard cleaning techniques for this virus (maybe even an industry-standard if feasible). The procedure for cleaning guest rooms may have to change. Rather than going with the current method of cleaning one room at a time, It would be feasible first to remove dirty linens and trash from all dirty rooms first. After housekeepers should wipe all surfaces with disinfectant chemicals and then move onto the bathroom to disinfect all areas (including the shower). Rigorous cleaning techniques need to be in place now, more significant than ever before. Housekeepers should then wash their hands accordingly before touching the clean linen and placing them in the guest rooms. I believe employees should have gloves and a face mask at all times. A more extreme but cautious requirement would be for employees to wash their hands every hour on the clock, whether they just washed their hands or not, a fixed element. (March, 2020)
Tourism business representative
United States
I CAN OFFER
I work in the hotel management in a luxury castle. There we can provide our guests the maximum comfort with a 8 ha garden (and we only have 25 rooms/suits) so it is perfect for guests, who want a short break from there everyday life, who wants to relaxe, who wants to enjoy the nature.
So nowadays it is necessary to provide your guests everything they want. That they leave your hotel with a smile. (October, 2020)
Student
Austria
I NEED
Senior industry professionals giving guidance to those who are just starting out in this industry during these troubling times. (March, 2020)
Student
United States
SOLUTIONS
Not specifically, but it's crucial to use the right psychological procedures (right words, slogans, music, messages) in marketing purposes. The goal of that would be managing crowds of people (tourists) in order to diminish their anxiety, fear of other people and travelling around. (April, 2020)
Student
Slovenia
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
Maybe finding financial solutions or funds for those who are now in existential crisis. I also think everyone who is working in culture sector or any other art branch is fearful of the future situation. I think we should really support those and find a way to make their lives easier. After all, art is what define us, makes us humans. (April, 2020)
