tourism crisis in south africa

COVID-19 Tourism Impact, Recovery and Resilience: South African and Zimbabwean Experience

• First Online: 13 May 2023

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• David Chikodzi 4 &
• Kaitano Dube 5  

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The tourism industry has been the main contributor to the rapid spread of the coronavirus and has also been a high-profile victim of this spread. The COVID-19 pandemic has been the biggest ever shock impacting the global tourism industry. The effects of the pandemic have been felt deeply by countries that rely on tourism as one of their most significant sources of revenue and employment. Different destinations respond differently to shocks. Hence, the pace of recovery and resilience differs with goals. The tourism industry is a significant employer and source of livelihood security for many people in South Africa and Zimbabwe. The continued underperformance of this industry due to the COVID-19 pandemic constitutes a significant economic crisis in both countries. Rapid post-COVID-19 recovery and resilience building to future shocks for this sector is, therefore, a priority for the two countries. This book aims to document case studies on tourism destinations’ impacts, recovery and resilience from the COVID-19-induced downturn in South Africa and Zimbabwe. Such research will inform policy interventions for the industry. A mixture of qualitative, quantitative and participatory methods of enquiry was used in the book, and the case study approach was adopted. This first chapter of the book orients the reader to the concepts and critical issues that inform the book’s writing. It also gives a synthesis of the book outline.

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Chikodzi, D., Dube, K. (2023). COVID-19 Tourism Impact, Recovery and Resilience: South African and Zimbabwean Experience. In: Dube, K., Kupika, O.L., Chikodzi, D. (eds) COVID-19, Tourist Destinations and Prospects for Recovery. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-28340-6_1

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Tourists are returning to South Africa – but the sector will need to go green to deal with the country’s electricity crisis

Professor in Tourism Geography, University of Johannesburg

Senior Lecturer in Hospitality and Tourism Management, University of Strathclyde

Associate professor, University of Johannesburg

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For the past 16 years South Africans have dreaded rolling power cuts euphemistically dubbed “loadshedding”. These are caused by the ailing state power entity Eskom’s crumbling infrastructure and its over-reliance on ageing and poorly maintained coal-fired power stations . Loadshedding has worsened in 2023, with some areas experiencing power cuts for up to 10 hours a day .

This crisis affects every aspect of the country’s economy, including its vibrant tourism sector. Tourism is a vital contributor to the South African economy. In 2019 the country welcomed over 10 million foreign visitors . The sector contributed up to 6.4% of the gross domestic product along with 1.5 million jobs (9.3% of total jobs).

These figures have contracted significantly because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Visitors are returning . But the financial recovery and viability of the sector, which is composed mainly of small businesses, continues to be hampered by the electricity crisis.

If tourism businesses are to literally and figuratively keep the lights on they must transition towards renewable electricity generation. There are three reasons for this. First, providing consistent electricity to their guests is essential for any tourism business. Second, renewable energy is less damaging to the environment than coal-based generation and its greenhouse gas emissions. Finally, customers are increasingly aware of environmental concerns. Many demand more sustainable tourism products and adjust their travel choices accordingly.

We are a team of interdisciplinary researchers with interests in tourism, sustainability and the environment who recently collaborated on a research paper that studied South Africa’s potential to break away from old forms of energy generation towards low carbon electricity generation. There are already some positive moves in this direction. But much more remains to be done. This will require the tourism industry and other economic sectors to step up.

What’s already being done

Some work is already being done to enhance the tourism sector’s environmental sustainability. The government’s Tourism Environmental Implementation Plan , published in 2021, facilitates greater participation by tourism establishments in renewable electricity generation and saving.

Read more: South Africa's power crisis will continue until 2025 - and blackouts will take 5 years to phase out

One initiative included in the plan is the tourism department’s Green Tourism Incentive Programme. It supports small tourism businesses by providing free energy and water audits. These can lead to improved efficiencies and the introduction of subsidised renewable energy systems. So far, 111 renewable energy projects have been funded . The Green Tourism Incentive Programme pays approximately two-thirds of investments. Individual businesses finance the remaining third.

In the private sector, the City Lodge hotel group shows what can be achieved by installing renewable energy systems . In 2020, solar panels generated just over 10% of the electricity requirements of the group’s 59 hotels.

Nature-based tourism is one of the mainstays of South African tourism products. South African National Parks, the body that manages national parks, has installed solar PV panels at 19 of its 21 parks. It is also putting in place other low-carbon strategies as well as climate adaptation plans .

Read more: World's beaches are changing because of climate change - green thinking is needed to save them

Getting it done

While these examples are encouraging, they remain limited in size and scope. Most innovation in South Africa towards sustainable energy generation has been self-funded as a business survival strategy to deal with the consequences of power cuts. The shift to renewable electricity, along with its greenhouse gas and air pollution benefits, is a happy coincidence.

A broader transition, helped by access to finance on terms that can smooth its way, is necessary to bring about a system change for tourism. This can place the sector on a path that decouples it from coal-based electricity. It will also ensure that small businesses can adopt renewable electricity.

The green energy shift in tourism is already taking place in developed economies in Europe. Turkey is another encouraging example. It has introduced a sustainable tourism programme ; solar PV panels are used widely by businesses and households alike.

Through shifting the tourism sector to renewable energy, tourism in South Africa can be part of the just transition too. This transition must include small and community-based tourism players. And, while tourism must play its part, other economic sectors should also step up.

Supportive South African policies are indispensable in developing an enabling environment for sustainability transitions. The state and its institutions must take greater responsibility and accountability to advance the social sustainability of energy policies. One way this could happen is by making the Green Tourism Incentive Programme more accessible to tourism enterprises across the country.

Kate Rivett-Carnac co-authored the research on which this article is based.

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• Just transition
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South Africa’s Tourism Industry Confronts Worsening Electricity Outage Crisis

Selene Brophy , Skift

March 15th, 2023 at 9:45 AM EDT

South Africa's hospitality and tourism industries have had to source alternative energy proactively. There appears to be no end to the country's ongoing energy crisis that cuts travel business profit margins and puts its digital nomad destination appeal at risk.

Selene Brophy

South Africa’s power crisis has gone from bad to worse, as ongoing blackouts since 2007 are now a daily occurrence, and will continue to be for the foreseeable future.

So how do you promote tourism with widespread blackouts?

The country’s tourism sector, worth an estimated $27.4 billion pre-Covid, is pushing towards full recovery, but with the ongoing energy crisis doing it no favors.

Tourist arrival numbers might be 153 percent up compared to 2021, with 5.7 million visitors to the country in 2022. Yet, it remains 44 percent below pre-Covid levels of 10.23 million visitors in 2019.

Persistent power cuts in 2022, estimated to  cost the economy at least $54 million ( R1-billion)  a day, according to energy and mineral resources minister Gwede Mantashe, has forced the country’s hospitality and tourism industries to proactively source alternative energy and adapt to ensure that the guest experience remains uncompromised. 

This has meant investing in costly diesel generators for one, which eats away at any potential profits. Conversely, large parts of the sector have seen the disruption as the right time implement sustainability goals in the face of Eskom’s failing coal infrastructure.

As result, the more load they can take of the national energy grid and convert into renewable energy, the better.

The  V&A Waterfront , South Africa’s most visited attraction, which usually sees over 24 million visitors per year, and was at 80 percent of its usual footfall October 2022. As a precinct adjacent to Cape Town harbour, it has been investing in energy efficiency since 2008, adding $2 million in solar systems and leading to a 35 percent decrease in overall energy consumption.

As another example, Cape Town’s  Table Mountain Cableway Company , part of the city’s Big Six attractions, has invested in a hydraulic backup motor that kicks in during load shedding to replace the electric motor that operates its cable cars. Cape Point, however, which does not have backup power for its funicular ride , and has since seen a drop in tickets sales for this part of the attraction.

Cape Town’s Push for Digital Nomads

Cape Town is no stranger to enduring a scarce resource crisis, suffering a  severe drought in 2018.  However, the ongoing power cuts do not bode well for its appeal to digital nomads with a possible remote working visa. The post pandemic trend has only grown in popularity to boost destinations appeal and tourism revenue, as detailed by Skift’s mega trends for 2023 .

“Load shedding is one of Cape Town’s challenges in recovering its allure for foreign and domestic tourists and has had a knock-on effect on various tourism sectors, including  jet fuel supply ,” said Enver Duminy, CEO at  Cape Town Tourism . 

He added that while Cape Town boasts an incredibly connected expat and  digital nomad scene , a downside of the energy crisis was its impact on internet connectivity.

Studies show that each one of these working tourists tends to spend up to $2 800 during their stay, which has the potential to add up to a significant benefit for the economy, according to James Vos, City of Cape Town mayoral committee member for economic growth.

“One report of an incentive program in Oklahoma in the USA shows digital nomads generated nearly $20 million in additional local gross domestic product. With a special visa, South Africa stands to realize such gains,” added Vos. 

Cape Town Tourism has partnered with Airbnb through its ‘ live and work anywhere initiative ‘, as a push for its digital nomad visa status.

Vos added that while the president confirmed in his state of the nation address that a remote worker visa would be implemented, there has yet to be any further update on when or how.

Green Tourism Incentive Fund

Fresh from ITB Berlin, where sustainability was a core focus , Curiocity founder and CEO Bheki Dube told Skift he found the issues of visa access and safety and security to be more of concern than load shedding, when it came to travel sentiment for South Africa as a destination.  

The power crisis directly impacts digital nomads, he said, who make up at least 80 percent of Curiocity’s bookings, with an average stay of 15 days. 

“They are on workcation. So having power outages affects this particular group. These are the first adopters, post-pandemic, who made us have resilient business models, so it’s a slap. The way they work is compromised, and they may not stay as long,” said Dube.

“We need to come up with solid and resilient structures to retain this particular market. They’re taking part in more activities, and they’ve got a major impact in convincing and influencing other colleagues to travel to destinations like South Africa to come to stay longer.”

Dube’s Curiocity hybrid accommodation offering, centered around co-working and co-living has applied for the national department of tourism’s  green tourism incentive fund  to move the company to total solar and energy efficiency. Thus the company is moving closer towards its sustainability goals, starting with its Joburg properties, once approved. The fund which awards a grand of up to R1m per applicant is currently closed, with new rounds expected to be announced.

Most importantly, Bheki added, Curiocity Front offices are powered up by battery packs, which also power wi-fi throughout.

“Wi-fi has become more essential than water. We’ve taken that step to ensure that we can at least meet our clients halfway. They can still work from our co-working spaces. So let’s hope the approval process speeds up!”

Murray Clark , founder of Neighbourgood , another co-working hybrid stay offering in Cape Town said it was working on implementing solar solutions across all of its buildings.

“In the absence of a real and tangible solution to the problem, as all private businesses have to do, we must solve our own power requirements.”

“As a city we have the most incredibly diverse culture of people and places. If the visa for digital nomads is a success, it will be much easier to visit (and live from) South Africa for people from across the globe who are already excited about being here. I cannot wait!”

S elling Power Back to the Grid

To a certain extend, local municipalities have also realized a shift in energy production is the better solution than expecting Eskom to be fully restored to its former glory days of being one of the cheapest providers of electricity on the continent .

The country’s president, Cyril Ramaphosa, has declared a national state of disaster at the end of February and has since done a cabinet reshuffle to appoint a new cabinet minister of electricity, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa , to help address the issue. He has also appointed a new Tourism Minister, former minister of public works and infrastructure Patricia De Lille.

Rosemary Anderson, national chair for the  Federated Hospitality Association of South Africa  (FEDHASA), confirmed 81 business liquidations in January 2023, 13 of which were from the hospitality sector. This is as unemployment remains at 32.7 percent, roughly almost a third of the population.

The Western Cape provincial government has developed the Municipal Energy Resilience (MER) initiative, to enable municipalities, businesses, and private households to generate, procure and sell power back to the provincial grid on the open market. This is only expected to get underway in 2025.

Who knows what will come first, the digital nomad visa or the renewal energy supply supplemented by citizens with solar rooftops? But right now South Africa’s resilient tourism and hospitality sector could use a fast track on both.

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Tags: cape town , energy crisis , experiences , johannesburg , south africa , sustainable tourism , tourism , tours and activities

Photo credit: View of Table Mountain from the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town. Shaun Meintjes / Cape Town harbour from Cape Town Waterfront

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Statistics South Africa’s recent official release of international arrival figures for January to November 2023, once again shows the South African tourism sector’s rising momentum.  

International tourist arrivals from January to November 2023 totalled 7.6 million representing a remarkable 51.8% increase when compared with the same period in 2022. While recovery towards pre-COVID-19 numbers is encouraging, this performance is 17.6% lower compared to the same period in 2019.

South Africa remains an attractive destination, for both domestic and international travellers. The numbers show that the tourism sector is successfully driving travel to South Africa while shaping cultural exchanges and contributing to inclusive economic growth.

Africa continues to lead the way

During the first eleven months of 2023, South Africa welcomed 5.8 million visitors from the rest of the African continent marking a significant 75.5% of all arrivals, compared to the same period in 2022. Within the African region, Zimbabwe and Kenya stood out for their remarkable growth. Zimbabwe saw an exceptional 77,5% increase in tourist arrivals, totalling 1.9 million, while Kenya recorded a 94,2% surge, reaching 37,414 arrivals for January to November 2023 compared to the same period last year.

“I am so pleased by these numbers from the rest of the African continent. We view the region as very significant and important. Kenya’s remarkable performance can be attributed to the strategic decision by government to simplify the visa regime earlier this year as well as targeted and effective insights-driven marketing campaigns. Overall, through focused marketing, various collaborations and leveraging various strategic opportunities by The Department of Tourism, South African Tourism and the broader tourism sector, we have been able to achieve these very impressive results on the continent,” says Minister of Tourism, Patricia De Lille.

The Americas exhibit Strong Momentum

Tourist arrivals from the Americas between January and November this year registered at 411,254 reflecting a 44.1% growth compared to the same period in 2022. The United States of America contributed the most, with 320,948 arrivals, marking a 39.5% increase compared to the same period in 2022.

“The US remains a top international source market for South Africa and has been recording robust steady growth in arrivals in 2023. Based on our December projections we anticipate recording our 2019 pre-pandemic arrivals well ahead of the forecasted recovery mooted for the 2024/2025 financial year.  We are proud of the work done by the team working collaboratively alongside our stakeholders in the public and private sector to deliver exciting consumer and trade-facing projects to drive brand affinity and distribution channel initiatives to reignite this market.” adds Minister De Lille.

European Markets Show Strength

With 1.1 million tourist arrivals, Europe contributed to 14.6% of the total arrivals, during the first eleven months of 2023. This marks a 43.2% increase when compared to the same period last year. The United Kingdom remains the top European source market with 315 054 tourists choosing South Africa marking a 30.4% growth. Germany experienced a 47.9% increase in arrivals, amounting to 219,971 tourists. This was followed by the Netherlands which saw an increase 48.4% amounting to 117,948 tourist arrivals from this country. Russia exhibited a dramatic growth of 83.9%, contributing 25,116 arrivals.

“Europe continues to show strong growth and recovery when compared to the same period in 2022.  Notably, the Netherlands has achieved 90% of 2019 arrivals, solidifying their position as the fourth largest international market behind the United States of America, the United Kingdom and Germany. This recovery can be attributed to consistent efforts to showcase South Africa as a welcoming, responsible tourism destination, highlighting experiences that align with intrepid, green economy conscious travellers,” Minister de Lille added.

Noteworthy growth from the Asia markets

During the first eleven months of 2023 Asian markets also showed significant growth with a total 182,497 arrivals from the region representing an astounding 72.6% when compared to the same period last year. In this region, India led the way with 73,037 tourists, a 46.3% growth, closely followed by China, which saw a massive 215.7% surge, amounting to 34,669 arrivals.

“The performance highlights South Africa's charm as well as magnetism as a tourism destination for tourists coming from this region. The rich and varied cultural heritage, historical connections, natural beauty and diversity continue to make our country very attractive to travellers coming from this region. The re-opening of the Chinese market and the initiation of direct flight routes have catalysed a resurgence in arrivals, highlighting the vast potential and significance of this market to South African tourism,” Minister De Lille said.

Middle East Registers Solid Gains

The Middle East saw a robust increase with 51,779 arrivals in the January to November 2023 period, a 37.5% growth when compared to the same period in 2022. South Africa received 15,507 arrivals from Saudi Arabia marking an increase of 40.9%. The United Arab Emirates showed a remarkable 114.2% growth, accounting for 6,360 arrivals.

More to be done to unlock even more growth  

“It is evident that our country remains attractive and that more can be unlocked with more policy and regulation revisions. I am committed to working with all partners and government colleagues to unlock barriers such as visa regulations, safety concerns and limited air access and air lift, so that we can grow our sector and meaningfully contribute to our country’s economy. I look forward to continue working with the rest of my colleagues in government in this regard so that we can all attain mutual benefits of our collaborative initiatives. Our country offers unique and undeniable breath-taking landscapes and tourism products and experiences. We also thank all the South Africans for their continuous hospitality and extending a warm welcome to all our visitors. Here’s to South Africa’s sustained charm, attractiveness and relentless tourism growth,” concludes Minister de Lille.  

For further information, contact  

Zara Nicholson

Ministry Media Liaison Officer

Cell: +27 (0) 79 416 5996

Email: [email protected]

Thandiwe Mathibela at South African Tourism  

GM: Global PR, Communications and Stakeholder Relations  

Tel: +27 825 520979  

Email: [email protected]  

Website www.southafrica.net ​​

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South Africa’s Travel & Tourism’s Growth to Outpace the National Economy for the Next 10 Years

South Africa’s Travel & Tourism’s growth to outpace the national economy for the next 10 years

Travel & Tourism to create more than 800,000 jobs over the next decade

London, UK: The World Travel & Tourism Council ( WTTC ) has revealed the South African Travel & Tourism’s GDP will drive the national economic recovery over the next decade.

The forecast from WTTC’s Economic Impact Report (EIR) shows the South African Travel & Tourism sector is forecasted to grow at an average rate of 7.6% annually over the next decade, significantly outstripping the 1.8% growth rate of the country’s overall economy.

By 2032, the sector’s contribution to GDP could reach more than ZAR 554.6 billion (7.4% of the total economy), injecting nearly ZAR 287 billion into the national economy.

The sector is also expected to create more than 800,000 jobs over the next decade, to reach more than 1.9 million by 2032.

Although the data reveals a bright future for South Africa’s Travel & Tourism sector, the recovery was seriously hampered after the detection and surge of the Omicron variant.  

Many countries around the world placed severe and damaging restrictions on African countries, which caused even further damage to those economies and put thousands more livelihoods at risk.

By the end of this year, Travel & Tourism’s contribution to GDP is expected to grow 37.2% year on year, to nearly ZAR 268 billion (4.3% of total economy).

Employment in the sector is set to grow by 3.8%% to reach more than 1.1 million jobs.

Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: “Although the future looks bright for the South African Travel & Tourism sector, the recovery this year will be slower than expected.

“Knee-jerk travel restrictions imposed over South Africa and other African destinations were impulsive and unjustified. Instead of punishing, these countries should have been praised for discovering the variant early.

“However, with GDP contribution and jobs on the rise, the long-term forecast looks very positive.”

In 2019, the South African Travel & Tourism sector’s contribution to GDP as a share of total economy was 6.4% (ZAR 405.2 billion), falling to just 3.1% (ZAR 180 billion) in 2020, which represented a staggering 55.6% loss.

The sector also supported more than 1.5 million jobs across the country, before suffering a 29.9% drop, falling to just over one million.

WTTC’s latest EIR report also reveals that 2021 saw the beginning of the recovery for South Africa’s Travel & Tourism sector.

Last year, its contribution to GDP climbed 8.4% year on year, to reach just over ZAR 195 billion.

The sector also saw a recovery of 20,000 Travel & Tourism jobs, representing a 1.9% rise to reach almost nearly 1.1 million.

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Travel & Tourism Jobs in Nigeria to Double Over the Next Decade

More Than Five Million New Travel & Tourism Jobs to Be Created in Indonesia Within the Next Decade

WTTC Reveals New Data Signaling the Recovery of International Travel to the U.S.

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November 10, 2023

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The South African tourism sector will need to go green to deal with the country's electricity crisis, researchers say

by Gijsbert Hoogendoorn, Irma Booyens and Kristy Langerman, The Conversation

For the past 16 years South Africans have dreaded rolling power cuts euphemistically dubbed "loadshedding." These are caused by the ailing state power entity Eskom's crumbling infrastructure and its over-reliance on aging and poorly maintained coal-fired power stations . Loadshedding has worsened in 2023, with some areas experiencing power cuts for up to 10 hours a day.

This crisis affects every aspect of the country's economy, including its vibrant tourism sector. Tourism is a vital contributor to the South African economy. In 2019 the country welcomed over 10 million foreign visitors . The sector contributed up to 6.4% of the gross domestic product along with 1.5 million jobs (9.3% of total jobs).

These figures have contracted significantly because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Visitors are returning . But the financial recovery and viability of the sector, which is composed mainly of small businesses, continues to be hampered by the electricity crisis.

If tourism businesses are to literally and figuratively keep the lights on they must transition towards renewable electricity generation. There are three reasons for this. First, providing consistent electricity to their guests is essential for any tourism business. Second, renewable energy is less damaging to the environment than coal-based generation and its greenhouse gas emissions. Finally, customers are increasingly aware of environmental concerns . Many demand more sustainable tourism products and adjust their travel choices accordingly.

We are a team of interdisciplinary researchers with interests in tourism, sustainability and the environment who recently collaborated on a research paper that studied South Africa's potential to break away from old forms of energy generation towards low carbon electricity generation. There are already some positive moves in this direction. But much more remains to be done. This will require the tourism industry and other economic sectors to step up.

What's already being done

Some work is already being done to enhance the tourism sector's environmental sustainability. The government's Tourism Environmental Implementation Plan , published in 2021, facilitates greater participation by tourism establishments in renewable electricity generation and saving.

One initiative included in the plan is the tourism department's Green Tourism Incentive Program. It supports small tourism businesses by providing free energy and water audits. These can lead to improved efficiencies and the introduction of subsidized renewable energy systems. So far, 111 renewable energy projects have been funded . The Green Tourism Incentive Program pays approximately two-thirds of investments. Individual businesses finance the remaining third.

In the private sector , the City Lodge hotel group shows what can be achieved by installing renewable energy systems . In 2020, solar panels generated just over 10% of the electricity requirements of the group's 59 hotels.

Nature-based tourism is one of the mainstays of South African tourism products. South African National Parks, the body that manages national parks, has installed solar PV panels at 19 of its 21 parks. It is also putting in place other low-carbon strategies as well as climate adaptation plans .

Getting it done

While these examples are encouraging, they remain limited in size and scope. Most innovation in South Africa towards sustainable energy generation has been self-funded as a business survival strategy to deal with the consequences of power cuts. The shift to renewable electricity, along with its greenhouse gas and air pollution benefits, is a happy coincidence.

A broader transition, helped by access to finance on terms that can smooth its way, is necessary to bring about a system change for tourism. This can place the sector on a path that decouples it from coal-based electricity. It will also ensure that small businesses can adopt renewable electricity.

The green energy shift in tourism is already taking place in developed economies in Europe. Turkey is another encouraging example. It has introduced a sustainable tourism program ; solar PV panels are used widely by businesses and households alike.

Through shifting the tourism sector to renewable energy, tourism in South Africa can be part of the just transition too. This transition must include small and community-based tourism players. And, while tourism must play its part, other economic sectors should also step up.

Supportive South African policies are indispensable in developing an enabling environment for sustainability transitions. The state and its institutions must take greater responsibility and accountability to advance the social sustainability of energy policies. One way this could happen is by making the Green Tourism Incentive Program more accessible to tourism enterprises across the country.

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South Africa’s Tourism Industry Coping with Worsening Electricity Outage Crisis

South Africa’s tourism industry, worth $27.4 billion pre-Covid, is struggling to recover due to ongoing electricity outages that cost the economy at least $54 million per day. To cope with the crisis, some hospitality and tourism businesses are investing in costly diesel generators or turning to renewable energy sources, while others are partnering with companies such as Airbnb to attract digital nomads who could provide a significant boost to the economy.

South Africa has been facing an escalating electricity crisis with regular blackouts occurring since 2007, which are now a daily occurrence. This persistent energy crisis has cost the economy at least $54 million per day in 2022,  with the hospitality and tourism industries forced to seek alternative sources of energy and adapt to ensure an uninterrupted guest experience, says Minister Gwede Mantashe.

Tourist arrival numbers in 2022 increased by 153% compared to 2021, with 5.7 million visitors to the country, yet it remains 44% below pre-Covid levels of 10.23 million visitors in 2019.

Investing in renewable energy, such as solar systems, is seen as a way to decrease energy consumption and take more load off the national energy grid. For instance, V&A Waterfront, South Africa’s most visited attraction, invested $2 million in solar systems, leading to a 35% decrease in overall energy consumption.

The power cuts have directly impacted digital nomads, which make up at least 80% of Curiocity’s bookings, who are on a “workcation.” They tend to stay for an average of 15 days and are the first adopters post-pandemic. Load shedding affects this group, and their work is compromised, which could lead to shorter stays. Curiosity founder and CEO, Bheki Dube, has applied for the national department of tourism’s green tourism incentive fund to move the company to total solar and energy efficiency.

South Africa’s Tourism push for digital nomads has been impacted by the ongoing power cuts. Cape Town is promoting its digital nomad visa status through its partnership with Airbnb’s ‘live and work anywhere initiative.’ Each digital nomad tends to spend up to $2,800 during their stay, making them a significant benefit to the economy.

According to James Vos, City of Cape Town mayoral committee member for economic growth, “One report of an incentive program in Oklahoma in the USA shows digital nomads generated nearly $20 million in additional local gross domestic product. A special visa can help South Africa realize such gains.”

Cape Town’s Water Shortage: How is it Affecting Tourism?

One of the continent’s most affluent and developed metropolises, Cape Town is an oasis in South Africa’s otherwise arid landscape. The iconic Table Mountain that overlooks the city traps breezes that drift from warm ocean waters and creates local rainfall, the region’s most precious commodity.

Now, the city is facing a bona fide crisis due to severe drought, with Cape Town’s water shortage affecting residents and tourists alike. 

Following three years of drought, with just a third of normal levels of rain falling, resulting in reservoirs lying at just over a quarter of their capacity.  The city now faces the looming ‘Day Zero’ set to occur on 16 April when taps will be shut off due to a lack of water.

Pleas from authorities to limit individual consumption to 87 liters per day have gone unheeded by three-fifths of the population of greater Cape Town, home to 3.7 million residents.  Dealing with Cape Town’s water shortage is quickly becoming a daily struggle for tourists and locals alike.  Water pressure has been reduced in an effort to limit consumption and water leaks and there are increasing numbers of cuts in the water supply.

According to Piotr Wolski, a researcher with the University of Cape Town’s Climate System Analysis Group, the drought is “very rare and severe” and droughts of this caliber occur “once in 311 years”.

One of the world’s most dramatic urban water crises, it can be explained by over-development, population growth, and climate change .

What travelers to Cape Town need to know

The tourist industry continues to function meanwhile. Cape Town’s economy does rely on tourism, so rather than avoiding visiting at all, you should know what to expect as an informed adventurer and be prepared.  As you might expect, visitors to Cape Town are expected to behave responsibly and do all they can to conserve fresh water. Here are some main considerations:

• People are asked to limit showers to no more than 90 seconds.  The wet-soap-rinse technique with the tap turned off between each step and sponge baths are also recommended.
• Avoid leaving the water running while brushing teeth (this should go without saying).
• Reuse your towels and your clothes as much as possible. Many hotels will only be replacing towels upon request.
• In bars and restaurants you can expect the taps in toilets to be turned off, with hand sanitiser provided instead. Tap water is no longer being served and drinks are being served in takeaway cups to avoid washing up.
• Some hotel swimming pools have been converted to saltwater.

Thinking of canceling your plans amidst Cape Town’s water shortage?

You won’t be able to cancel without penalty at the moment, as airlines and tour operators are working under normal terms and conditions. This may change with circumstances in the near future. But unless Foreign Offices warns against travel to Cape Town there is no obligation for tour operators to accommodate change of plans.

Even if you are flying to Cape Town, South Africa Tourism advises that there are many other adventure travel destinations across the Western Cape and in South Africa that are not as severely affected by the drought. These include the Garden Route, the Cape Overberg and Johannesburg, which has not been affected.

In an effort to counteract the economic detriment and potential job losses, SA Tourism will be soon carrying out a global roadshow to reassure potential visitors.

Photo source: Pixabay

Liked this article? Looking for the latest in travel and adventure news ? Then check out the rest of our articles at Adventure Herald . You can also like us on Facebook , follow us on Twitter or Instagram to keep up with our latest antics.

About the author

Fiona is half Irish-half Italian and currently lives in Budapest. She is passionate about sustainability and loves nature, traveling and vegan food.

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