Post COVID-19 Travel
 
A holiday in South Africa, including that often touted “once in a lifetime” safari holiday, is said to be typically bucket list stuff, leaving it last on the list and probably therefore also the last continent that most travellers ever visit! That said we can’t help but wonder how that will change post-Covid-19, as this experience shapes traveller’s future expectations the world over.
 
While this entire Covid-19 experience has been a brutal test of courage, resourcefulness and endurance for tourism industry businesses specifically, it has also been an incredible experience of empathy, care, friendship and partnership, bringing out the very best of our shared humanity. One of our latest Stanford Blogs is case in point on our community pulling together in food scheme relief efforts. The COVID-19 experience has certainly strengthened the general resolve that we all have for the deep human desire to connect and explore, and in that, there is no doubt therefore that travel will both endure and thrive in the months and years to come. The changes we will undergo through this crisis will not be temporary or short-lived, and travel industry businesses across the globe will need to make fundamental changes and adjustments to the way they respond to changing client expectations.
 
South Africa has a unique opportunity to thrive during post-Covid-19 travel and is already one of the top destination spots as per recent SATSA – The Voice of Inbound Tourism industry research polls. With Africa accounting for only 4% of global international arrivals numbers pre-Covid-19, Africa’s high-value, low-volume tourism industry is the ultimate combination of social distancing and makes for a profoundly safe human, wildlife, mountain, and ocean connection.
 
For the most part, the Cape Whale Coast, of which Stanford Village forms a part with its walking safari at Panthera Big Cat Sanctuary and outdoor conservation oriented tourism activities such as Phillipskop Mountain Reserve, Grootbos Private Nature Reserve, Walker Bay Nature Reserve, Platbos Forest, Flower Valley Conservation Trust and Klein River Estuary and Willem Appel Dam & Bird Hide in the heart of Stanford is already set for a post-Covid-19 travel world. Designed to minimise the negative environmental impact people have on pristine wildlife areas, while maximising socio-economic benefits for regions that own, and communities that surround, these wildlife, conservation, mountainous and ocean oriented open spaces. Because safari, conservation and outdoor tourism not only enriches our lives but the lives of our wonderful guests, while supporting livelihoods across our region, South Africa, and the Cape Whale Coast may just get an unexpected boost from a pandemic that has ravaged world economies.
 
The Cape Whale Coast and Stanford must continue to look to tourism as the force that uplifts communities and protects our wildlife, in order to maintain the decades of conservation we’ve built on the foundation of bringing guests to South African soil.
 
The psychology of mortality brought about by global lockdowns and travel bans enhances a desire for emotive buy-in and connectedness that will drive increased demand for the experiential. And with a developing consciousness, the Cape Whale Coast and Stanford in particular has both experiences and connectedness in abundance. There are few places in the world that families and loved ones can come to reconnect for long hours every day, away from the distractions of endless Zoom meetings and chat apps than for example on a River Cruise along Stanford’s Klein River to witness 200+ bird species while sipping local wine as the sun sets on the horizon.
 
In addition to the incredible experiences the Stanford has to offer, the shared humanity of this crisis, which is truly global, has already seen people and businesses stepping up to support those in need. See our recent Blog ‘The Small Village with a Big Heart’ as an example of local food scheme efforts. The established indirect and direct connection between tourism and poverty alleviation, education and conservation will be a strong driver for guests to come to our shores and experience all its provinces in support of these amazing causes. The reality is as destinations and source markets reopen, guests will have a plethora of options available for travel and few destinations have the impact story so closely linked to why travel to South Africa should be at the top of the list of those guests with that consciousness to give back.
 
Book or enquire with us at Stanford Tourism!