BOTSWANA’S TOURISM AMID THE COVID 19
In 2020 the world was hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and it saw many of national economies crumble to the ground. The sectors that many countries including Botswana relied upon economically were hard hit to the extent that they went on complete shut-down. In Botswana tourism has for many years always been the biggest sector of economy and has always been part of the country’s economic development. When the pandemic hit last year in 2020, it majorly affected the industry in many ways. It went on full shut down although locally the industry did later on try to get back up, it has not been easy.
The hospitality and tourism industry in Botswana has already suffered substantial losses of business and value with hotels operating at 10% capacity. Most of the citizens guest houses and campsites have closed because of limited business. But since the festive season they have been trying to get operational with safer ways that do not go against the COVID-19 regulations. These are strict regulations which go against the ways hotels and guesthouses function making them not efficient enough. With guesthouses, there has been a light of hope as they can operate solely due to the fact that they mostly provide sleeping accommodation to mostly local citizens who would be in business trips or weekend or night getaways
Botswana’s tourism mostly relies on foreign tourists who come from all ends of the world for its vast safaris and wildlife. Most of its revenues are international, every year thousands of tourists pay big money to enjoy the beauty of nature that Botswana offers. When the coronavirus hit, it restricted international travels hence a major loss for Botswana’s tourism. According to a survey made by SafariBookings.com, the African Safaris Industry which makes billions of US Dollars has seen a major decline since last year and even since this year began. This saw Botswana’s prideful safari industry going completely out of business.
In the survey, Mr. Fred Msami of Savanna Safaris & Tours said, “When we started this year, 2021, a number of guests who had a safari booked in 2020 were very active and wanted to have their safari dates fixed, but since the second wave, at around mid-Jan, most of them became silent and perhaps planning for 2022. Regarding new enquiries, most guests are undecided. Firstly, they can’t book their flights at the moment, and the fact that the second wave is here, has put all plans on hold. In early January we had enquiries, but by end of January to the present day, enquiries have gone silent.” Isa Satheba, whose business is Extremely Wild Safaris also said the pandemic is affecting his business badly as he couldn’t do trips anymore, he said this pandemic has been the toughest experience ever.
Reports have also indicated that the wildlife as well has been massively killed, especially the endangered game like Rhinos. Poachers have been easily killing and dehorning rhinos since the protectors, wildlife rangers have been not as operational as before. And with not much force to take care of the wildlife due to the COVID-19 regulations, poachers have thrived and game been massively killed. The pandemic really took a toll on Botswana’s tourism.
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