Depok, February 24, 2025 – A public lecture featuring Prof. Wei Shen, Qiushi Chair Professor from Zhejiang University, was held at the auditorium of the Faculty of Administrative Sciences. The lecture covered an intriguing topic: “Global Trends and Perspectives on Tourism Impact and Responses During and After COVID-19.” The post-COVID-19 era has brought significant changes across various sectors, especially in the tourism industry.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many activities shifted from physical interactions to virtual experiences. For example, virtual tours were offered through websites by various cities such as Vienna, Amsterdam, London, Paris, and several others across Europe. Museum visits also transitioned to virtual museum experiences.

In his lecture, Prof. Wei Shen explained that the COVID-19 pandemic forced many previously normal activities to shift online. However, he emphasized that virtual experiences could not entirely replace the authenticity of in-person experiences. As the pandemic ended, new opportunities emerged for innovation and creativity to restore life to normalcy, encouraging countries to adopt new marketing strategies in the tourism sector.

“Despite the crisis, there are many opportunities to develop innovation and creativity,” said Prof. Wei Shen.

The lecture highlighted how the global tourism sector underwent significant transformations, including the adoption of innovative strategies like city branding. Successful examples include “I Seoul You,” “I Amsterdam,” and “Tokyo.Tokyo Old Meets New.” These strategies play a crucial role in revitalizing the tourism industry while ensuring safe and engaging experiences for the public.

The event concluded with the presentation of a certificate and an award from the Faculty of Administrative Sciences, University of Indonesia, to Prof. Wei Shen, represented by Dr. Eko Sakapurnama, S.Psi., MBA, and Prof. Dr. Martani Huseini. Participants also had the opportunity to take photos with Prof. Wei Shen to commemorate the event.