Tourism is the most impacted sector by the Covid-19 pandemic. Its situation in Europe is becoming catastrophic. Millions of jobs are threatened.

Can innovation be the right response?

Definitely yes! But, for many travel companies, innovation is no longer a priority. They have recently stopped all cooperation with startups. They claim for 'need to focus on basic business'. Lots of traveltech entrepreneurs may stop their activity soon.

That’s why we must strongly remind our industry that innovation is a key factor to overcome this crisis. Because startups’ agility can really be impressive.

Here are new business opportunities for tomorrow’s Tourism innovation:

• New health and hygiene measurement protocols; ex: non-tactile check-in/out kiosks, with holographic buttons.

• New management of flows, taking into account the rules of social distancing; ex: interactive light signage in public transport guiding passengers.

• Better complementarity between physical & digital for MICE; ex: online meetings rooms, with augmented services, dedicated to clients who can’t attend the event.

• Better management of tourist flows by anticipating congestion peaks; ex: artificial intelligence able to anticipate crowds and suggest new visit slots.

The key words will be: care, recovery, phygital, fluidity, large-scale cooperation, touchless operations, real-time flow monitoring, local Tourism.

For further examples, please have a look on some Paris-based startups.

The COVID-19 pandemic completely reshuffles the cards. Anticipation is vital.

That will be the main purpose of Welcome City Lab’s next trend-book, to be published in September.

Laurent Queige
Director of Welcome CityLab & Member of Skål International Paris