Ebola Effects Linger On In Tourism Industry
Boniface Keakabetse | Monday November 2, 2015 13:54
Monitor Business enquired from tourism companies in Maun to find out their performance during the current tourism peak season, which started in March and ends in November.
Wilderness Safaris managing director, Woodrow Grant said the bookings for the current year are down on the previous year as a direct result of the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.
Further he explained: “The greatest impact was felt in the first quarter of the financial year, as our business experienced few cancellations. There was a definite drop in new bookings as tourists feared the long term effects of the virus”.
On whether the industry is experiencing an improvement, Woodrow responded: ”Bookings are, however, improving as the year progresses, we are experiencing some recovery”.
&Beyond communications manager in Johannesburg, SA, Valeri Mouton, said when responding to enquiries via email: ”Our peak season is down on last year, primarily impacted by the Ebola hype during our peak booking season of January-March”.
On whether there is any improvement, she said: ”We have seen stronger sales over the past few months compared to 2014, and we are expecting a good peak booking during January–March 2016.”
SKL Safaris director, Reaboka Mbulawa said tourism by its nature is susceptible to global turmoil including disease outbreaks like the Ebola. To carry his point forward, Mbulawa said that annually Botswana destinations feel the effect of the September 11, 2011 terrorist attacks in the United States as many western travellers are seemingly hesitant to travel in September fearing similar potential attacks.
In addition, both Wilderness Safaris and &Beyond decried that the strengthening of the US dollar particularly against the Euro.Moulton said: ”The strength of the USD particularly against the EUR has made USD-destinations less popular although it is difficult to separate the currency effect from the Ebola effect”.
Grant also said the strengthening of the USD has resulted in an increase in the cost of Botswana packages.