Content Team 
WORDS: KAONE MOTHIBI
PICTURE: PHILLIP MODISE
With the whole world brought to a halt by the Coronavirus, almost all industries in the world economy have been adversely affected, but it is the travel and tourism industry that has borne the brunt of the negative impacts that novel Covid-19 has had in the business world.
It is an indisputable fact that tourism is a pillar of the economy of not only Botswana but the rest of the African continent. Botswana’s sacred plains and a vast array of magnificent wildlife puts us atop the list of the most sought after tourist destinations in Africa and the world at large.
With most countries on total or partial lockdown , and inter-continental travel suspended, and with key tourist countries being the most negatively affected, all this amalgamates in severe repercussions for Botswana’s local tourism industry which is strongly weighted towards international travellers, with 73% of total spending in the industry being from international travelers and only 27% from domestic travellers (WTTC).
Tourism contributes 30% to Botswana’s gross domestic product and employs approximately 90’000 Batswana at 8.9% of total employment. According to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). Botswana’s Travel &Tourism economy grew 3.4% in 2019 to exceed $2.5billion in 2018 and recently contributed nearly one in every seven dollars that are spent in the industry. These patrons are primarily leisure travellers who contribute 96 % of spending in the industry compared to just 4% from business travellers (WTTC). This means that hospitality and leisure businesses such as Safaricompanies, Game lodges, Curio and cultural artefacts shops have witnessed a sharp decline in the demand for their services and products. With this reality, a lot of families whose means of income are strongly oriented towards tourism are left reeling from this new reality and are near destitute. Without comprehensive Government and stakeholder intervention, the industry will be permanently scarred, condemning thousands of Batswana to abject poverty.
WeniGlam Magazine expresses complete solidarity with the businesses and ultimately the Families whose livelihood has been adversely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
