Effects of coronavirus disease on tourism business and employment in eight selected operators in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
The global proliferation of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has been unprecedented, with far-reaching implications for the world. As nations began to grapple with its untold effects in March 2020, global tourism succumbed to an unusual and implausible new reality. Most parts of the w...
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| Format: | research article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
United Nations Ecoomic Commission for Africa
2022
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| Online Access: | https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/5217 |
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| Summary: | The global proliferation of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic
has been unprecedented, with far-reaching implications for the world. As
nations began to grapple with its untold effects in March 2020, global
tourism succumbed to an unusual and implausible new reality. Most parts of
the world, including Zimbabwe, imposed international and domestic travel
bans and restrictions in order to prevent the spread of the virus, believed
to have originated in China in December 2019. Victoria Falls, top tourism
resort in Zimbabwe, submitted to the inevitable. The present paper explores
the effects of COVID-19 on the tourism business and employment in
Victoria Falls, using selected tourism operators. The impacts of a pandemic
are never universal and should be studied in particular contexts. The findings
reveal that the COVID-19 lockdown measures imposed by the Government
of Zimbabwe more than a year ago heralded the worst performance of the
sector. Operating capacities reduced to inconceivable levels and constrained
the capacity operators to honour statutory obligations and maintain
commitment to corporate social responsibilities. The requirement for
operators to equip themselves with COVID-19 health-care supplies –
an unforeseen expense – exacerbated business vulnerability. As business
uncertainty remained high, and to save businesses, operators were forced
to implement labour cost reduction measures such as job cuts, reduced
working hours, unpaid leave and reduced salaries. Effective containment of
the COVID-19 pandemic will significantly alleviate the distress experienced
by the tourism industry |
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