The effects of COVID-19 on safari tourism in South Luangwa National Park in Zambia

Abstract: 2020 has seen many businesses across all industries struggle and, in some cases, shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic declared in March 2020 by the World Health Organisation. Perhaps the most affected industry was and still is the tourism sector, with a reported 100% of global destinations restricting travel in different senses (UNWTO, 2020). Various adaptation strategies have been adopted by businesses in the tourism industry to curb the negative economic impacts the pandemic has had. Some adaptation strategies that have been implemented in Zambian safari businesses include focusing on the domestic market which has not been a priority in the past. This research investigates some impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Zambian safari industry and analyses some strategies that have been adopted to adapt to said impacts. This has been done through semi-structured interviews with senior staff at four safari lodges in South Luangwa National Park. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on lodges in South Luangwa National Park. It was found that all four lodges that were interviewed faced drastic impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, mainly in that they faced significant financial losses, low occupancy and temporary closure. The findings also showed that they were able to adapt in several ways, with the most significant being the shift from an international market to the emerging domestic market.