Zimbabwe Plans to Revive Tourism Industry
The tourism industry in Africa has been severely hit by coronavirus lockdowns and cancelled bookings. In a sudden turn of events, almost all hotel bookings were cancelled, wildlife safari excursions were postponed and cultural tours abandoned as the Corona virus spread across the world and devastated the tourism industry worldwide.
Many African countries rely on toursim earnings to run their economies. And the hard hit dealt to their tourism industry due to the coronavirus pandemic has had a deeply negative impact of several African economies.
The year 2020 started on a positive note for Africa's tourism sector and was shaping up to be a lucrative year. Africa had the world's second fastest growing tourism industry and was expected to bring in billions of dollars. But as the deadly COVID-19 struck, tourists stopped coming and the tourism industry came to a grinding halt.
Many African countries are now drawing up new plans to revive their ailing tourism industry. Zimbabwe Tourism Authority’s Acting Chief Executive, Givemore Chidzidzi outlined strategic issues essential in post-Covid-19 tourism recovery drive.
Presenting the Destination Zimbabwe Tourism Recovery Draft Plan, he said: “The plan outlines measures to be undertaken by the Government, the tourism industry and stakeholders to address the negative effects of the COVID-19 on the tourism sector. The decline in international arrivals in Africa was less than 10% whereas overseas markets had a decline of more than 10% with Asia and Europe both experiencing a 20% decline. Middle East however had an increase of 20%,” he said.
Chidzidzi said domestic tourism currently contributes 30% to the total tourism receipts. He, however, singled out domestic tourism as a key component in post-COVID-19 tourism recovery efforts.
The Tourism Recovery Plan drafted by the Zimbabwe Government seeks to among other things:
- Provide relief packages to affected tourism businesses including small business within the tourism value chain.
- Provide a soft landing for the tourism industry as they re-open their enterprises to the market.
- Save and secure jobs from being lost in the tourism value chain.
- Re-establish contact with the local, regional and international tourism market.
- Reassure confidence in the marketplace and encourage visitors to travel to and within Zimbabwe thereby boosting tourist arrivals and tourism revenue.
- Rollout campaigns informing the marketplace that Zimbabwe’s tourism business is back.
Zimbabwe Plans Tourism Recovery
Against this backdrop, UNWTO has recommended measures for tourism recovery post COVID-19 pandemic which include:
- Financial and political support for recovery measures targeting the tourism sector in the most affected countries
- Recovery measures and incentives to be planned and implemented in coordination with international development and donor organizations
- Tourism support to be included in the wider recovery plans and actions of affected economies.
As in the past, UNWTO will provide guidance and support for recovery measures of its members, the private and public tourism sector, including organizers of tourism events and fairs.
- To reassure the world source markets of their safety in various destinations.
- To reassure the world source markets that tourism destinations will welcome them back.
The UNWTO estimates that in 2020 global international tourist arrivals could decline between 20 - 30%. Zimbabwe international tourist arrivals could decline between 30 - 80%. According to UNWTO, the decline is estimated to lead to loss of between US$30 - 50 billion in spending by international visitors (international tourism receipts) globally.
Zimbabwe forecasts a decline which may lead to the loss of between US$ 0.5 – 1.1 billion in tourism receipts.
