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.
TOURISM MEANS
Tourism means the oportunity to travel and experience different environments, be it social or nature or business, tourism offers a wide range of oportunities to people, also means a concern about impacts that this wide spectrum of activities has. (April, 2020)
Student
Slovenia
Explore #TourismFromZero perspectives
Different perspectives on the selected topic: ALL
Tourism business representative
Bosnia Herzegovina
Tourist
Singapore
Tourism business representative
Slovakia
#From Instagram
TOURISM MEANS
Life. Bussines. (April, 2020)
Tourism business representative
Slovenia
CHALLENGES
I have lost my job at a hotel in March at the beginning of the crisis. Now during summer I am going to work at a surfing school and I am not sure if there are going to be enough guests and how it is possible to work there with the students respecting the hygiene concepts. But it was also hard to study during the crisis because we did not have any course at university but only online. It was hard for me to stay focused at these times and not seeing my friends and colleges to get physical support. Furthermore, it was difficult for me that our freedom got limited and we could not move like we usually do. (June, 2020)
Student
Austria
CONCERNS
- That a lot of small businesses will die
- That a lot of people will loose their jobs
- A financial crisis in Austria
- That a lot of people can't go to funerals, can't visit their family members in hospitals
- That a lot of women get victims of domestic violence (October, 2020)
Student
Austria
IDEAS
Gov'ts will be facing budget deficits in coming years and tourism programs may be impacted. Right now tour operators are emerging across the circumpolar world. They are often competing against larger, more established operators from the outside. I think it's important to look at eligibility requirements for gov't funding, and that regional funding be directed towards Arctic-based operators, as they are the smallest and most vulnerable. This is not the case in all circumpolar jurisdictions. We should use scarce public resources to support local tourism industries. (April, 2020)
Tourism business representative
Canada
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
I need a good and competent team, a team that is reliable. I would like to be mutely involved in the creative work process of sustainable tourism and be heard there. Even though I am still very young for this. I think it is important that people of different ages and backgrounds work together. Through this diversity we will find the best solutions. (December, 2020)
Student
Austria
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
The media partly exploit the situation of the pandemic to get attention and generate sales. However, the media is not aware, or perhaps unfortunately they are - even sadder that this hype in the media - can make the population sick. (October, 2020)
Student
Austria
OTHER / SPOTTED
It is my opinion, that now we have time to prepare fresh trip ideas and new routes, for ourselves or for others, if we work in a travel agency and so when all this is over, we will be able to offer something new, innovative and different to tourists. (March, 2020)
