Page 41 - Noble Magazine • July-August 2020

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HOSPITALITY

Reviving Botswana’s Tourism

Industry after COVID-19

Countries which depend on tourism as a major revenue source have
been struggling in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis.

The sun sets over the Okavango Delta, Botswana, April 25, 2018. Mike Hutchings/Reuters

he Botswana tourism far reaching within the tourism sector. imposing entry bans, especially for
sector cannot avoid the This is worrisome considering that the citizens of or recent travellers to the
threats posed by the sector is the second largest revenue most affected areas. According to a snap
Tcurrent coronavirus disease earner in the country. Dependence survey conducted by the Botswanan
(COVID-19). Considering that tourism on the international market has made Local Enterprise Authority (LEA)
relies on physical interaction between the sector vulnerable to the effects covering 382 SMMEs, the tourism
people, it does not come as a surprise of the disease outbreak, as the main sector suffered a 72 percent revenue
that the sector has borne the brunt countries from which tourists come loss in March 2020. Furthermore, of
of the global pandemic. On May were among the most affected by the the 382 SMMEs surveyed, 209 had
2020, the United Nations World global pandemic. loans and the tourism sector accounted
Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) for 61 percent of the loan balance. This
anticipated a 58 to 78 percent decline Of the 1.8 million tourist arrivals paints a bleak future for the companies
in tourist arrivals. UNWTO further recorded in 2017 in Botswana, 84 should they not prove resilient enough
observed that Small, Medium and percent were from Africa while the to bounce back from COVID-19.
Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) will be remaining 16 percent were from
particularly impacted. The SMMEs countries such as the United States, Specifically, the industry has suffered a
make up around 80 percent of the Germany and the UK. However, loss of revenue and a failure to service
tourism sector globally. In southern revenues from overseas far outweigh bank loans, finance operational costs
Africa, the sector has seen a dip in those from the African continent due such as wages and rent payments,
website traffic and business on to the country’s high value/low impact and a loss of opportunities aimed
airlines, travel agents, hotels, and tourism strategy—with the goal of at community development. It is
tourist destinations. minimizing environmental impacts therefore evident that the underlying
and at the same time maximizing driver of these problems is loss of
Botswana recorded its first three socio-economic benefits. income by the travel and tourism
confirmed cases of COVID-19 on March operators.
30, 2020. As of June 22, there have Due to the fact that travel and
been eighty nine confirmed cases. Even tourism go hand in hand, the sector The SMMEs are mostly hard hit
though the disease spread in Botswana started feeling the pinch as soon as because their working capital is largely
is low compared to other countries, international travel restrictions began
the economic repercussions have been and countries around the globe started Continues in Page 42

Noble Magazine // July - August 2020 41