Tour operators in Zambia’s Lower Zambezi area have seen improved business after 40% of last year’s bookings were cancelled due to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.

According to the Lower Zambezi Tourism Association, business has significantly rebounded.

Royal Zambezi Lodge Reservations Manager, Vanessa Greatorex, said business last year took a dip after mostly American groups cancelled their trips to the area due to reports of Ebola, despite no incidents of Ebola being reported in the Southern African region. Greatorex said Royal Zambezi saw a 20-40% decline in enquiries.

“Most of our overseas visitors perceive Africa as one big country and when news of Ebola broke out, they thought the whole continent was affected. However we have begun to see an improvement in business lately and there are a number of enquiries being made for the destination. The situation is definitely improving,” she said.

Baines River Camp Lodge Manager, Debbie McCarthy, said operators in the Lower Zambezi area were now receiving bigger numbers.

She said it was important to continue marketing the destination as the area has a lot to offer, with a variety of safari camps providing accommodation options for all travellers on the banks of the Zambezi.

“With over 5 000 square kilometres of protected wildlife areas, a safari in the Lower Zambezi offers more and our different source markets know that and they have started coming back. Bigger numbers are coming up and we expect growth this year,” McCarthy said.

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