The Safari Industry has incurred huge revenue losses amounting to US$100 million due to the COVID-19 pandemic that has grounded tourists, The Herald reports. The industry has further claimed that almost 90% of its bookings which are equivalent to 8 000 hunting days have been cancelled.
Safari Operators Association of Zimbabwe president, Dr Emmanuel Fundira spoke about the devastating effects of the pandemic and said:
Zimbabwe is part of the Transfrontier Parks namely Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park (GLTP), Kavango Zambezi Conservation Area (KAZA) and is signatory to emerging Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCA’s) such as Chimanimani TFCA and The Greater Mapugubwe TFCA which together support more than two million direct and indirect jobs all of which are under severe threat due to the evasiveness of Covid-19.
The pandemic, COVID-19, adds more pain to a very depressed situation and is further compounded by widespread cancellation of bookings recorded daily nationwide.
This is revenue running close to US$100m already lost which means the remaining US$10m worth of business may not be salvaged in this calendar year unless the spread is halted or controlled to reasonable levels.
This comes amid reports by the ZNCC that claimed if the president extended the lockdown, tourism operations would totally collapse. The government is reportedly putting together a relief package to bail out the sector.
More: The Herald