Page 42 - Noble Magazine • July-August 2020

TOURISM INDUSTRY

COVID-19

Continued from Page 41 their agreements. This has dealt already high unemployment rate in
a significant blow to tourism- the country, which, prior to COVID-19,
financed through prepaid bookings. dependent communities in northern stood at 20.7 percent.
Consequently, as clients cancelled Botswana, especially in areas where
their bookings, they demanded refunds photographic safari has proven As part of managing the crisis, the
which companies could not afford. unprofitable. Their livelihoods had government also introduced a “do not
Furthermore, most tourism businesses already dwindled following the 2014 cancel but postpone strategy,” where
operate on bank loans which need to be hunting ban. pre-booked clients were encouraged
serviced monthly in addition to other to postpone their trips instead of
expenses such as staff salaries and other As countries begin to open their cancelling them altogether. In order
bills. Therefore, loss of revenue resulted economies, there is a delicate to provide stimulus and accelerate
in some operators not being able to balance between saving lives and recovery, the government introduced a
honor their contractual obligations rebooting the economy. The UNWTO loan guarantee scheme for 24 months,
toward their financiers. Some travel perceives tourism as a key sector that up to a maximum of BWP 25 million
and tourism SMMEs operate from will support livelihoods and create ($2 million) per business. Post-
rented facilities and lack of income opportunities for millions of people COVID-19 plans include an economic
has resulted in some being unable to around the globe in the post-COVID-19 stimulus package to boost the economy
pay their rent. Some companies have world, and is in line with the UN’s from which the tourism sector will also
had to release their staff due to lack of global sustainability agenda. Not only benefit.
business. While some sectors may easily is COVID-19 a health challenge, it is
convert to working from home, this also a social and economic emergency. Despite these efforts, estimates show
is not plausible in the tourism sector that some subsectors of the tourism
because of the nature of the business Therefore, there is a need for sector may take a year or more to
which requires physical interaction tourism-dependent countries to put recover. There are some lessons to be
with clients. in place mitigation measures to curb learned as the industry prepares for the
the socioeconomic impacts of the future. These include the importance
Botswana’s Community Based Natural pandemic. The UNWTO encourages of insurance that covers business
Resources Management (CBNRM) countries to prepare to recover from interruptions caused by public health
program brings together community the effects of the pandemic by focusing crises. Clearly, a dialogue is needed
stakeholders to establish sustainable on the following areas: managing the between the tourism industry and
economic development, which takes crisis and mitigating the pandemic’s the insurance sector which currently
into account biodiversity conservation. impact; providing stimulus and concentrates on insurance that only
The 2014 hunting ban resulted in a loss accelerating recovery; and preparing covers physical damage caused by
of income for communities involved in for the future. The government disasters, such as floods and fires, and
CBNRM. of Botswana has already laid the not the effects of pandemics.
groundwork along these mitigation
In 2019, however, the government areas. In conclusion, it has become apparent
made a research-based and informed that not only is it necessary to
decision to lift the hunting ban, Botswanan leaders have introduced put in place mechanisms that will
creating new opportunities for some economic and fiscal relief enable tourism SMMES to bounce
community development. Safari initiatives in response to COVID-19. back from the effects of COVID-19,
hunting forms part of tourism and The tourism sector is eligible to a transformational agenda with
communities had already made benefit from this assistance as part implementation timelines is also
agreements with international safari of managing the crisis and mitigating necessary to protect the industry
hunting operators to take advantage its impact. Among other things, the against future pandemics. This
of this year’s hunting quota. However, initiatives aim to support workers includes investing in domestic tourism
this supposed boon to tourism has and stabilize businesses. Immediate which has, up to now, not received
failed to materialize given global measures include the establishment the attention it deserves due to the
travel bans. In an April 27 press of the COVID-19 Relief Fund. The exclusive nature of the “High Value-
statement, the CEO of the Botswana funds will provide wage subsidies for Low Impact” tourism policy adopted
Tourism Organisation noted that companies that have been affected in Botswana. These changes will come
hunting may only take place toward by the pandemic. The wage subsidy with diversification of the tourism
the end of the year, or even next year. covers 50 percent of the basic salary product away from wildlife-based
of employees between BWP 1,000 tourism to include other products that
Only then will Community Trusts, and BWP 2,500 ($84 and $208 will be more appealing and affordable
which manage community-based respectively) per month from April to the domestic market.
resources and tourism services, to June. The goal is to retain as many
and their clients be able to honor jobs as possible considering the By Wame L. Hambira
42 Noble Magazine // July - August 2020