An analysis of Residents' Willingness to Pay for Domestic Nature-Based Tourism in Botswana During and Post the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic halted tourism leading to job losses, loss of livelihoods and revenue losses at national and international levels. The pandemic has reinforced the need to develop strong domestic tourism bases. The overall aim of this study is to estimate domestic tourists' willingness to pay for domestic tourism packages during and post the COVID-19 pandemic. To achieve the overall aim, this study seeks to estimate the residents' willingness to pay (WTP) for a standard two-day domestic nature-based tourism package and analyse factors influencing residents' WTP for domestic nature-based tourism. The study relied on primary data sourced from an online questionnaire administered randomly to residents aged 18 years and older. The contingent valuation method (CVM) was used to analyse the average level of the residents' WTP for domestic tourism. On average, the respondents were willing to pay for a standard two-day domestic nature-based tourism experience package valued at BWP3 340.66 per person sharing. Some camps charge as high as BWP72 097.62 for a similar package. There is a need to develop plans that promote pricing and product offerings that accommodate domestic tourists without having an impact on the sustainability of natural resources and the integrity of the natural environment © 2023 AJHTL /Author(s)

THE IMPACTS OF COVID-19 ON NATURE-BASED TOURISM IN BOTSWANA: IMPLICATIONS FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

COVID-19 has had significant impacts on industries and individuals globally. Due to restrictions put in place to reduce the spread of the disease, it has affected the travel and tourism industry. Using the concepts of ecotourism and sustainable tourism, a systematic qualitative document analysis of available literature was carried out to determine the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on nature-based tourism and its implications on community development, using Botswana as a case study. Results indicate that due to the unsustainable and predominant dependence on the international market, the tourism sector in Botswana has come to a standstill. Furthermore, the promotion of domestic tourism to nature-based attractions may lead to conservation issues. COVID-19 has also had an impact on community development through abrupt losses of employment and income. However, several positive environmental impacts have also been experienced. This article calls for a transformation of the tourism sector to make it more resilient. As a response measure, it is necessary to assess whether there is a need to call for a change in policy from high-value low-volume to low-cost high-volume, which may have negative impacts on conservation. However, as an adaptive response, we assert the need to diversify tourism products to consider the needs of both domestic and regional markets so that the focus is not just on nature-based tourism and international clientele. © 2021. All Rights Reserved.