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The countries of Southern Africa, reeling from the effects of floods that wreaked havoc since February, have experienced a drop in tourism, especially in the wildlife and ecotourism sectors, news reports said.
Industry officials reportedly said overseas tourists were concerned about the threat of malaria and other water-borne diseases and that a number of wildlife lodges have had cancellations because the rains have rendered game drives and walks impossible.
Mozambique, hardest hit by the floods, has seen its flow of foreign tourists reduced to a trickle, added the reports. Even in parts of the country that have not been affected by the floods, business has reportedly dried up because of perceptions that the whole country was under water.
South Africa’s eastern province of Mpumalanga, which also experienced flooding, has seen tourism tailoring off after visitors cancelled their bookings because of the wet weather. A manager of a luxury wilderness camp in the province reportedly said they lost 120 bed nights because of the rains. “But the roads are fine now,” the manager said.
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions
