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I RECENTLY had a friend visit me at the office for a chat. As we stood, outside, talking, my colleague was approached by someone he knows.
Their conversation, of very few words caught my attention.
“Bakamba, muchitika bwanji, njala kaili. Shaniko ili yonse [loosely translated as: Big man, what’s up, I am hungry, assist me with any amount],” he said.
My friend who is operations manager at a Livingstone based tour operating company that offers adrenaline activities responded: “I am broke young man. Have you seen any white people in town? If you don’t see any white man, it means I don’t have money.”
At that point, it hit me.
Truth be told, Livingstone, being the tourist capital, is one of the worst hit in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak which has since been declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Most tour operating companies, lodge owners and businesses have cut down on their workforce due to loss of business, compounded by the virus that is fast spreading and has claimed many lives and left equally many either infected and battling for their lives or indeed affected.
Addressing stakeholders at a Zesco organised stakeholders meeting here recently, Livingstone mayor Eugine Mapuwo sounded the warning of the looming job cuts in the hospitality industry.
He said he has been overwhelmed with reports of cancelled bookings. “Bookings are being cancelled by tour operators in view of this virus that is ravaging the world. Tour operators and lodges are on the verge of collapsing and this is very bad,” he said.
Indeed, the effects have been felt - and the hospitality industry has been hard hit.
Of course, there are trickle down effects which I believe everyone will feel.
Coming back to my friend's comment, this should therefore be an eye opener to tour operators or indeed everyone in the hospitality industry and tourism in general to not only concentrate on foreign nationals but tap into the huge local tourists pool.
Truth is there a lot of Zambians who would like to indulge themselves in the many activities that the tourism industry has to offer - but are kept away because of the huge costs.
Just recently, someone passed a comment in social media of how companies in Livingstone will charge as high as US$168 for an activity that will only last for a minute or less - whether Zambian or not, you have to part away with that much for you to do the activity.
Simply said, the target, for most of these tour operators is, by large, foreign nationals. Clearly, not many Zambians can afford to part away with such kinds of money. Make no mistake however, others do, but they are not many.
Whereas it is understood that businesses have their eyes set on profits, it will do them more good if their business development managers come up with enticing packages that will lure and tempt local people into indulging in these activities.
In the wake of the deadly coronavirus that has sent world economies into disarray, I think it also comes as an eye opener that sometimes, looking within could be the solution much as we appreciate the role that foreign nationals play on boosting revenue.
That way, with or without white people [foreign tourists] in town, at least you could be assured of some money.
The author is a Livingstone based Zambia Daily Mail correspondent.
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