Botswana nature-based tourism and Covid-19

Transformational implications for the future

Dados Bibliográficos

ID21540941
AutoresWame L Hambira (0000-0003-1266-0738, Okavango Research Institute, University of Botswana, Maun, Botswana, autor correspondente), Lesego S Stone (0000-0002-6851-3545, Okavango Research Institute, University of Botswana, Maun, Botswana), Vincent Pagiwa (0000-0002-1786-3430, Okavango Research Institute, University of Botswana, Maun, Botswana)
Ano2022
Volume39
Fascículo1
Páginas51-67
Data de publicação2022-01-02
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessNão
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoDevelopment Southern Africa (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0376-835X • E-ISSN: 1470-3637
EditoraInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/0376835x.2021.1955661
OpenAlexW3189401943
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas15
Referências citadas32

COVID-19 poses a huge threat to the tourism industry. Not only is COVID-19 a health challenge, but it is also a socio-economic and ecological emergency. The UNWTO anticipates a 20-30% decline in tourist arrivals, a huge blow for sub-Saharan countries whose economies depend on nature-based tourism. Using qualitative document analysis, this paper presents an analysis of the interlinkages between COVID-19 and nature-based tourism, resultant impacts and implications for the future of tourism in Botswana. Results show that the disease spread in Botswana has resulted in far reaching socio-economic and environmental repercussions. These include revenue losses, business closures, retrenchments, and loss of opportunities for financing community development projects; wildlife straying beyond their normal ranges posing a threat to life and increasing chances of poaching. Lessons learnt for the future transformational agenda include the need to intensify domestic tourism; virtual operations and strategies for human-wildlife co-existence

Business · Development economics · Disease · Economic growth · Economics · Environmental resource management · Geography · Natural resource economics · Poaching · Political science · Public relations · Revenue · Tourism · Transformational leadership · Wildlife · Diverse Aspects of Tourism Research · Strategic Planning and Analysis · Tourism, Volunteerism, and Development · Ecology · Finance