Safari industry on its knees
This is a major blow for Africa’s safari industry, the wildlife reserves that rely on its revenue and the local people employed in the sector.
ELLANIE SMIT
WINDHOEK
A new survey has revealed the devastating impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the African safari industry.
Almost all tour operators are experiencing a decline of 75% or more in bookings, according to the survey conducted by SafariBookings.com, the largest online marketplace for African safari holidays.
The major safari countries included in the survey were Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.
The total international tourism receipts for these seven countries are about US$15.5 billion.
The website conducted a survey of 443 safari tour operators to ascertain the impact the coronavirus is having on the sector.
75% drop in new bookings
It found that 90% of tour operators were experiencing at least a 75% drop in new bookings.
“This decline is a direct consequence of the coronavirus pandemic,” said co-owner of SafariBookings, Jeroen Beekwilder.
According to him, a worrying result for the safari industry is that the declines in new bookings and large-scale cancellations of existing bookings are continuing.
“This is a major blow for Africa’s safari industry, the wildlife reserves that rely on its revenue and the local people employed in the industry.”
Tour operators generally expressed a sense of uncertainty and concern for the welfare of their staff and businesses, he said.
Uncertainty
Granville Diergaardt of Oshili Namibia Travel and Tours said due to the coronavirus outbreak, they experienced a sharp decline in tour requests and bookings.
“The uncertainty makes it very difficult for the clients to plan ahead and hence they put off traveling entirely.”
Smart Banda from Banda Tours and Travel said many clients have cancelled their bookings.
“There has been a decline in new enquiries as well."
According to Fanuel Kashima from Discovery Transfer and Tours, since the outbreak, they have not received a single booking.
Derek Jacobs of Blue Crane Safaris, however, expressed hope.
“We are very worried, but also positive and know we will be running tours again as normal.”
Don’t cancel
Beekwilder said as safari experts, they advise clients not to cancel their trips, but rather to postpone in order to save tourism worldwide.
Namibia was named one of 2019’s top African safari destinations by SafariBookings.
WINDHOEK
A new survey has revealed the devastating impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the African safari industry.
Almost all tour operators are experiencing a decline of 75% or more in bookings, according to the survey conducted by SafariBookings.com, the largest online marketplace for African safari holidays.
The major safari countries included in the survey were Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.
The total international tourism receipts for these seven countries are about US$15.5 billion.
The website conducted a survey of 443 safari tour operators to ascertain the impact the coronavirus is having on the sector.
75% drop in new bookings
It found that 90% of tour operators were experiencing at least a 75% drop in new bookings.
“This decline is a direct consequence of the coronavirus pandemic,” said co-owner of SafariBookings, Jeroen Beekwilder.
According to him, a worrying result for the safari industry is that the declines in new bookings and large-scale cancellations of existing bookings are continuing.
“This is a major blow for Africa’s safari industry, the wildlife reserves that rely on its revenue and the local people employed in the industry.”
Tour operators generally expressed a sense of uncertainty and concern for the welfare of their staff and businesses, he said.
Uncertainty
Granville Diergaardt of Oshili Namibia Travel and Tours said due to the coronavirus outbreak, they experienced a sharp decline in tour requests and bookings.
“The uncertainty makes it very difficult for the clients to plan ahead and hence they put off traveling entirely.”
Smart Banda from Banda Tours and Travel said many clients have cancelled their bookings.
“There has been a decline in new enquiries as well."
According to Fanuel Kashima from Discovery Transfer and Tours, since the outbreak, they have not received a single booking.
Derek Jacobs of Blue Crane Safaris, however, expressed hope.
“We are very worried, but also positive and know we will be running tours again as normal.”
Don’t cancel
Beekwilder said as safari experts, they advise clients not to cancel their trips, but rather to postpone in order to save tourism worldwide.
Namibia was named one of 2019’s top African safari destinations by SafariBookings.
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