Since the outbreak of Covid-19, the tourism industry in African countries has suffered. Parks and hotels are empty because people have to practice social distancing. Therefore, some African tourism associations have come up with the idea of "supplying" tourists with digital impressions of the continent while the Covid-19 epidemic is complicated.
SAFARI AT HOME
The sun slowly rises over the horizon of the African savannah. Under the morning light, a family of elephants is wandering across the grasslands in search of the nearest watering hole. Herds of antelope and zebra are moving through the wilderness, birds are chirping…, signaling a hot day ahead. This scene takes visitors to the Sabi Sand Game Reserve in Mpumalanga province - one of the most famous picnic spots in South Africa, which looks very real. But in reality, visitors are at home and still have a picnic through a smartphone or tablet… not in a jeep. Virtual or real, each trip is different, adding to the fun, adding to the experience.
Safari in Kenya
Going on safari in Kenya, walking in the Namib Desert in Namibia, paragliding in South Africa or standing on the edge of Victoria Falls on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe - all are experienced and enjoyed by virtual travelers like Juan Santiago (from Madrid, Spain). Juan Santiago has been to Kenya a few times this year to observe the wildebeest migration in the Maasai Mara Reserve - one of the wonders of the world. This year is different, instead of going to Kenya, Juan Santiago is taking a virtual tour of Nairobi National Park. “At home, I still have the safari atmosphere in this park. Everything is real. After Covid-19, even if my family travels to Kenya without me, this technology helps me accompany them,” said Juan Santiago.
Kenya has lost more than $750 million (€656 million) in tourism revenue since the country's first Covid-19 case. "That's why the Tourism Board launched a virtual safari livestream in June as part of the Magic Awaits campaign to promote tourism and connect the world to Kenya as countries around the world restrict movement during the Covid-19 pandemic. 16 different tourist destinations in Kenya are being livestreamed. People can go online and find the places they want to visit. This is our opportunity to showcase Kenya as a great tourist destination," Betty Radier, CEO of the Kenya Tourism Board, told DW.
"Long distance love"
The We Are Worth Waiting For campaign is being launched in Cape Town, South Africa, allowing visitors to enjoy virtual tours of Robben Island, the old prison, and Table Mountain. Enver Duminy, CEO of Cape Town Tourism, likens this period to “long-distance love”. “During the Covid-19 pandemic, we have used technology to upload images of what visitors are looking forward to, what they last experienced in Cape Town on social media and in campaigns to remind visitors why they love exploring the place in the first place. And hopefully, technology will help us connect and sustain our “long-distance love”, said Enver Duminy.
“Virtual tourism is a great opportunity for tourists to experience before deciding to go to a place or do an adventure, like bungee jumping,” said Gerald Ferreira, founder of Virtual Reality Company in South Africa.
Tourists bungee jumping in South Africa
According to preliminary figures from the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), 74% of African countries had temporarily closed their doors to tourists by early June. Before the Covid-19 outbreak, Africa was the fastest growing tourism region. In 2018, about 67 million tourists visited the continent, generating $38 billion in revenue. In 2019, the number of tourists increased by 4.2%. In 2020, it could increase by 3-4%.
When the coronavirus hit, the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) estimated that nearly 8 million jobs had been lost in Africa’s tourism industry. Urgent solutions were needed for African tourism. Could virtual tourism replace real tourism?
The future of virtual travel
At the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, Juan Santiago, a Madrid resident, took a virtual tour of the famous archaeological collection at the Nairobi National Museum in Kenya. He believes in the future of virtual tourism. “One day, we will all see the giraffe in Nairobi all over the world; go to work at 8am and see it on a live screen in the office. This is good for conservation because nature lovers like me will donate money to preserve giraffes, rhinos or elephants,” said Juan Santiago.
Baby elephant on safari
"I don't compete with traditional tourism, I see myself as a partner," Patrick Karangwa, a computer scientist who offers virtual tours in the Rwandan capital Kigali, told DW. "I help tourists who haven't been on a tour for a long time get more information about the places they want to visit. This benefits tourism businesses, hotels, restaurants in particular and the smoke-free industry in general."
In the coming weeks, the first European package tour will arrive in Rwanda since the Covid-19 outbreak. Kenya will welcome tourists from August 1. South Africa’s tourism industry hopes to be able to operate again from September 2020. However, whether this will actually happen is uncertain as the number of coronavirus cases in Africa is currently on the rise.
Travelers who are “crazy about travel” can only hope that tours to Africa will be available once the Covid-19 pandemic has passed. Those who are satisfied with virtual travel will also have their passion satisfied.
