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COVID-19 and Rural Tourism Destinations in South Africa: Impact, Transformation Opportunities and Potential

In: COVID-19, Tourist Destinations and Prospects for Recovery

Author

Listed:
  • Zanele Dube-Xaba

    (School of Education, University of KwaZulu-Natal)

Abstract

COVID-19 has severely affected the tourism industry and still poses spillover impacts on rural tourism destinations globally. This chapter examines the impact of COVID-19 on rural tourism destinations in South Africa. It explores transformation opportunities and the potential for such destinations to survive in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Literature on rural tourism destination conditions before and during the COVID-19 pandemic was systematically reviewed. The findings revealed that rural tourism destinations experienced a decline in tourism arrivals and activities and a sudden loss of employment and revenue. Despite these negative impacts, it is argued that COVID-19 presents opportunities for transformation and those rural tourism destinations have the potential to thrive. Such destinations also have the potential to drive the recovery of domestic and international tourism due to their locations and ability to maintain health safety measures. COVID-19 thus presents rural tourism destinations with the opportunity to transform their products and plan for sustainable (re)growth. That growth may require rural tourism destinations to tap into the domestic market and diversify their products and costs to appeal to local tourists. The opportunity for coordinated rural tourism development is wide open should rural infrastructure and technology be transformed. The transformation will provide the opportunity to rejuvenate South African tourism destinations to ensure their sustainability in the future.

Suggested Citation

  • Zanele Dube-Xaba, 2023. "COVID-19 and Rural Tourism Destinations in South Africa: Impact, Transformation Opportunities and Potential," Springer Books, in: Kaitano Dube & Ishmael Mensah & Lazarus Chapungu (ed.), COVID-19, Tourist Destinations and Prospects for Recovery, chapter 0, pages 225-241, Springer.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:sprchp:978-3-031-24655-5_12
    DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-24655-5_12
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