What innovations would enable the tourism and hospitality industry in Africa to re-build?

Abstract

PurposeThis paper discusses the outcomes of an exploratory study into the innovations, adaptations, and best practices that the tourism and hospitality sector in Africa should implement in dealing with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic-induced disruptions.Design/methodology/approachThis paper was based on data collected through qualitative approaches by reviewing published academic articles and unpublished documents, including websites, media reports and global public health entities such as the World Health Organization (WHO). Because of the lack of reliable data in some cases, this study is inductive in nature.FindingsThe main finding of this research suggests that Africa which is seemingly the least affected in infection and casualty rates has conversely borne the brunt of the negative responses from the global community in travel restrictions and mobility curtailment. Overwhelming trends suggest the domestic tourism market does not have the spending capacity of international visitors who arrive with foreign currency, inevitably main-stream in the form of USD, EURO and GBP, with their spending power estimated at between 1:18 and 1:22. The fragmented, cascaded and sometimes disorganised approach in dealing with policy adoptions and implementation in managing developments around the pandemic further inhibits a compelling approach to continent-wide tourism and hospitality revival.Originality/valueThis paper highlights trends, innovations, and adaptations to COVID-19-related revival strategies for Africa and contributes to academic debates on the topic which, in the Global South context is currently under-researched.

Post Covid Resilience and Recovery Strategy for Tourism in Developing Countries: Tourism and Hospitality Innovations during the Covid-19 Pandemic

“…The development of hotel applications (hotel apps) for resident guests in hotels gained popularity as guest could get all the hotel info on the up instead of the traditional hotel directory placed in the rooms. These results on new technological innovations in the hotel industry are in line with studies conducted by Bama, Nyathela & Makuzva, 2022. The respondents also reported that they noted increased operational efficiency and productivity rate per employee and fewer employees on sick offs.…”

“…The pandemic has proved to be the catalyst for innovation and integration of new technologies for the travel and tourism sector. It has opened new prospects for the development of information and communication technologies (Bama, Nyathela & Makuzva, 2022). Their study found that digitization, collaborations, partnerships and integrated governance frameworks as key adaptations and best practices for the hospitality sector in Africa.…”

Conclusion: what innovations would enable the tourism and hospitality industry to re-build?

“…Overwhelming trends suggest the domestic tourism market does not have the spending capacity of international visitors. The fragmented, cascaded and sometimes disorganised approach in dealing with policy adoptions and implementation in managing developments around the pandemic further inhibits a compelling approach to continent-wide tourism and hospitality revival (Bama et al. , 2022).…”

The Interplay between Intellectual Capital, Business Intelligence Adoption, and the Decision to Innovate: Evidence from Jordan

“…This led to a decline in consumer spending, job losses, and product demand [5]. To develop sustainable economies, firms embraced new technologies and investments in healthcare, biotechnology, and renewable energy [6]. It is crucial for the industrial sector to innovate and adapt as the world recovers from the epidemic.…”