In early 2021, where is the tourism sector now?

It is no secret that the sector relies mainly on international tourism. As soon as travel was banned in March 2020, the whole sector started suffering. Hospitality venues closed their doors. We have seen workers being laid off; others took a substantial pay cut. No concrete financial support has been provided by the government to touristic operators. The promotion of local tourism will not fully offset the income losses caused by the borders closure. Today, with “Miatrika COVID” led by the Confederation of Tourism of Madagascar, we focus on providing various trainings to tourism employees and indemnifying them as a compensation to the pay cut.

On a more positive note, what opportunities has COVID-19 open the door to?

Let us see the glass as half full. A lot of people have gone partially unemployed but with hindsight, this is an opportunity for each one of us to grow as a person, to redefine our goals, to make good use of our time and question ourselves. It is the right time to set priorities and act accordingly.

It is the right time for tourism and hospitality professionals to rethink their way of doing of business, to bring new ideas and test proposals to improve their services and to get better prepared for the tourists’ arrivals. For example, a restaurant can think of a better way of providing faster service or managing food inventories. National parks can consider virtual visits or produce documentaries showcasing our biodiversity.

In terms of recruitment, some people will remain in the tourism and hospitality sector while others will branch out in a new direction. It is the right time to develop new skills by taking online courses and doing trainings, and to get more flexible in terms of mobility. In Madagascar, 30 percent of job vacancies remain unfilled because recruiters struggle to find the right talents. It is the right time to reflect on what we want to achieve and make thoughtful decisions based on the opportunities available in Madagascar.

Despite the closures of restaurants and hotels, tourism and hospitality schools must make every effort to provide practical internship opportunities or propose concrete projects to their students.

I keep saying: “let us place the human at the heart of our actions”. Each one of us must make efforts at our level. In the absence of vaccination, let us keep respecting social distancing and maintain environments as safe as possible to reassure local and international tourists. We need to be conscious that everyone struggles in this fight, and it is the right time to show that we are humans, that we are supportive to each other, that we are selfless. By humans, I mean “me, you, our families and friends, colleagues, neighbours, everyone.” We should not wait for the government or funders to help. Ask yourself: “What can I do today?”

Your projections in the short term?

Madagascar cannot count on international tourism any time soon. We need to rely on local tourism and adjust our offers by proposing various travel packs and by extending the touristic season. However, this does not mean bargaining excessive low tariffs. We must act with ethics.

A reopening of our borders will undeniably affect airlines, exports, and imports in a positive way. However, with potential new variants of the virus, international tourists are more likely to stay cautious. The recovery of the sector will be done gradually; and hopefully, we will return to more normal levels in 2022.

Interview by Kenny Raharison