African countries are giving international tourists a chance to travel the continent and go on a safari by virtual means. But can virtual reality replace a real trip?
The sun rises on the African savanna. Above the horizon, it is possible to see the silhouettes of an elephant family walking through the grassland towards the nearest waterhole. Zebras and impalas run through the wilderness, while the birds chirp.
This scene in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve in Mpumalanga, one of the best-known safari regions of South Africa, seems very real. However, the tourists enjoying this view are not actually driving their jeeps, but are at home watching it on their smartphones or tablets. The safari itself is really taking place; thus, as in real life, every trip is different. This is the added value of such virtual experiences.
The African tourism industry has started collapsing since the coronavirus pandemic broke out. National parks and hotels are empty, as tourists are all stuck at home. But several African tourism associations have decided to develop some virtual experiences for travelers by giving digital impressions of the continent during the pandemic.
1. Safaris at home
Virtual tourists can now enjoy safaris in Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, or on the edge of the Victoria Falls at the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe.
We have interviewed Juan Santiago, an avid traveler who is now taking advantage of the rise of virtual tourism. Santiago, from Madrid, has already visited Kenya a couple of times to watch the migration of wildebeest in the Maasai Mara game reserve. This particular phenomenon has often been called one of the Wonders of the World. But this year, instead of going to Kenya, Santiago is paying a virtual visit to the Nairobi National Park. “If the safari is led well, you feel as if you really were there in Nairobi National Park,” he says. “Even if my family tours Kenya without me after the pandemic, I will be able to accompany them virtually thanks to this technology.”
2. A chance to survive
Since the first case of COVID-19 in Kenya, the country has already lost more than €656 million in tourism revenue. For this reason, last month, the Kenyan tourism authority initiated a live-stream drive as part of its #TheMagicAwaits campaign. This initiative aims to give the world a taste of Kenya and the numerous experiences that are possible to live there, says Betty Radier, the managing director of the Kenya Tourism Board.
“People are now looking online for places to travel to in the future. This moment is a great opportunity for us to present ourselves live as a destination,” she said. So far, sixteen different Kenyan destinations are being live-streamed.
3. A taste of things to come
The concept is also working in South Africa. For instance, the tourism authority of Cape Town has launched the campaign “We Are Worth Waiting For”, which offers ways to enjoy the city through virtual reality, including tours on Robben Island and Table Mountain.
Enver Duminy, managing director of Cape Town Tourism, describes it as a long-distance love affair. “During the pandemic, we have used social media and campaigns to remind tourists why they fell in love with the destination in the first place,” explains Duminy. “We publish images of what tourists are longing for, or of what they experienced during their last visit. And we hope to continue that love affair between the tourists and our destination.”
According to Gerald Ferreira, founder of the Virtual Reality Company in South Africa, virtual tours allow tourists to understand whether they want to visit a particular place for real.
4. Rapid growth
According to the UN Tourism, 74% of African governments did not accept tourists within their borders at the beginning of June. Before the epidemic outbreak, Africa was the fastest-growing region in terms of tourism. In 2018, Africa hosted around 67 million tourists, who generated more than $38 billion in revenue. In 2019, the number increased by 4.2%. 2020 would also have been a positive year for the African tourism sector, but then, COVID-19 arrived. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), Africa lost almost 8 million jobs related to the hospitality and tourism. Looking for alternatives is the only way to survive the crisis. But can virtual tourism replace real travel? Or could it damage the tourism industry, leading potential travelers to stay away and visit Africa from their own homes?
5. Itchy feet syndrome
According to Patrick Karangwa, a computer scientist from Rwanda, virtual tourism is not a threat, but an opportunity for the country. Indeed, he offers virtual tours through the capital, Kigali.
“I am not a competitor of traditional tours, but a partner,” he said. “I contribute in spreading information to encourages people to travel. It is really an advantage for the travel industry and the hospitality facilities.”
Enver Duminy believes that although virtual reality allows more immersive experiences, it will never substitute a real journey, because it does not allow people to touch and taste and smell.
In a few weeks, Rwanda will welcome back the first European tourists. Tanzania, despite its lax approach to the coronavirus crisis, is already welcoming tourists, and Namibia has reopened its national parks. Starting from 1st August, Kenya will also open its frontiers to international travelers, while South Africa’s tourism is supposed to restart in September 2020; however, some uncertainty remains as COVID-19 cases are currently rising. Countries like Uganda will probably have to wait a bit longer.
6. Animal welfare benefits
Juan Santiago is not worried by this. Since the beginning of the pandemic, he has already experienced a virtual tour in the Nairobi National Museum. Although he likes to travel in these countries in person, he thinks that virtual tourism will develop further in the future. He believes that one day, we will all be able to see the giraffes in Nairobi from all over the world, using our laptops.
“This will help to preserve natural landscapes and wild species, because nature fans would donate for these giraffes.”
Some destinations might still be closed to travelers, but for virtual tourists, the world is already open.
