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.
When I decided to enrol into Faculty for Tourism Studies, I did not think a lot about tourism in general, just the facts that I like to travel and work with people were enough. After a few years, I got a job as a tour representative on different destination and a guide as well. What I loved about it the most is that locals, after some time, start treating you as one of their own and not as a simple tourist, which is something that a lot of people are trying to achieve while traveling. (May, 2020)
Student
Slovenia
CHALLENGES
A complete drop in sales. (August, 2020)
Tourism employee
Slovenia
CONCERNS
I worry that a lot of businesses will go down, and that the development of tourism will stop or even go back. In Northern Norway, we have been working hard with issues of sustainability, and I am afraid that sustainable choices will have less attention from the companies' side, because their main focus will be to get a minimum of income. I also worry that working within the tourism industry will be less attractive. (May, 2020)
Tourism or convention office, event organizer
Norway
IDEAS
I would suggest a more sustainable tourism, maybe even limit the amount of leisure flights to one per person and year, promote train and bike travel and stop the subventions and tax releases for airtravel, work with hotels and destinations on their sustainability. (April, 2020)
Student
Germany
I CAN OFFER
My joy at work in the tourism industry. (June, 2020)
Student
Germany
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
Campaigns with providers through social media, radio... We are contecting providers in the some field (restaurants / sport activities / local food & prodacts) and making separate campaigns. To help them and support them in this period and also to share interesting experiences in our destination and ideas to the time after covid19. We are including sustainability and green solutions. Strengthen on the domestic market. (April, 2020)
Tourism employee
Slovenia
EXPLOITATION
Social media influencers using it for attention; politicians making speeches to further their own agendas and blame various other parties instead of taking responsibility. Others whom are price gouging, being rude and inconsiderate, unfortunately this list goes on and on and on. (March, 2020)
Student
United States
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)
