ABSTRACT

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.

摘要

COVID-19 对旅游业构成巨大威胁。COVID-19 不仅是一项健康挑战，也是一种社会经济和生态紧急情况。世界旅游组织预计游客人数将下降 20-30%，这对经济依赖自然旅游的撒哈拉以南国家来说是一个巨大的打击。本文使用定性文件分析，分析了 COVID-19 与自然旅游之间的相互联系、由此产生的影响以及对博茨瓦纳旅游业未来的影响。结果表明，这种疾病在博茨瓦纳的传播已经造成了深远的社会经济和环境影响。其中包括收入损失、企业倒闭、裁员以及失去为社区发展项目融资的机会；超出正常范围的野生动物对生命构成威胁并增加偷猎的机会。未来转型议程的经验教训包括加强国内旅游业的必要性；人类与野生动物共存的虚拟操作和策略。