TOURISM MEANS

Tourism service activities a small part of our offer, but are a nice complement to our primary activity (cheesmaking). (May, 2020)

Tourism business representative

Slovenia

CHALLENGES

I work at a winery when I am not a student at school. The winery was forced to close due to the COVID-19 outbreak. I now have no income. (April, 2020)

Tourism employee

United States

CONCERNS

How will I sustain my life in the future? Global crisis will affect us all on the long term, but especially young generations will have to provide some solutions and different approaches in a matter of business. (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

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

Surveys, how to apply sustainability in a ski resort. (April, 2020)

Local resident

Italy

SOLUTIONS

Given that the country is closed and that people are scared, I don’t see many solutions, and I don’t have good practice yet. I went back to the time when I founded the company. I make reservations for hotels for the citizens of Slovenia, which received a tourist voucher from the state. At the moment, this is the only way I pay all the costs of the company. (July, 2020)

Tourism employee

Slovenia

EXPLOITATION

Not do much an exploitation as such, but discounting I see amongst hotels in Japan will not save the industry as it causes the Prisoner's Dilemma. Everyone could suffer as a result. (April, 2020)

Student

Japan

OTHER / SPOTTED

Whilst this is major setback for tourism as we know it and many businesses will suffer as a result, I at least hope this will present an opportunity for the industry to change for the better. A more sustainable approach to tourism is needed, perhaps this will kick start it. (May, 2020)

Tourism business representative

United Kingdom