Implications of COVID-19 Induced Lockdown on the South African Tourism Industry and Prospects for Recovery

Abstract

South Africa has one of the largest and most developed tourism markets in Southern Africa. Consequently, the sector's performance, therefore, has implications on the regional tourism market. In the advent of COVID-19, South Africa emerged as one of the global and regional epicentres of coronavirus infections. In March 2020, South Africa was one of the countries that adopted hard lockdown measures to control the pandemic. The consequent sealing off of the country’s ports brought the tourism industry to a sudden halt. This study is aimed at examining the impact and potential reopening strategies that the tourism industry can adopt in South Africa. The study is based on critical document analysis of survey reports from South Africa’s National Department of Tourism, Stats SA, Google Mobility and other authoritative, relevant sources. The study concludes that the pandemic had a devastating impact on various sectors of the tourism economy. The most devastating industries include the aviation, maritime, special events, accommodation and attraction sectors. The sudden halting of the tourism industry threatened conservation efforts and the business viability of many tourism establishments. Consequently, public and private airlines were liquidated or placed under business administration with far-reaching implications for various destinations and travel sectors. The study recommends a well-engineered financial aid package for the region's tourism industry, reduced tourism levies and taxes backed by the adoption of stringent health protocols to help the industry recover and make travel appealing and attractive again. A robust vaccination program must support such efforts.