NEWS impact


llapse of income, with the WTTC recently warning that 100 million jobs in the providers and operator representatives in destinations from Australia to Peru


SAMEH TAWFIK, 38 general manager, Intrepid Travel Cairo, Egypt


“We handle all clients coming into Egypt and Jordan. Luckily we were able to get everyone out once borders started shutting. Our last 26 passengers were on the final flight departing Cairo. “For the Middle East, it’s very


disappointing. Egypt had been struggling to attract clients back, but recently it was looking really promising – 2018 was a very good year and 2019 was amazing – so when everyone left, it felt like going back to 2011 when we had no tourists [during the Arab Spring]. “It’s very difficult, especially for tour


leaders on the road all the time, not knowing when this will go on to. That’s why this period is more difficult than the Arab Spring – then, there was no business for a couple of months but it wasn’t standing still like now. “Everyone needs to work together to


build tourism again. Travel is part of our lives. We know people will travel again.”


PETIT MIRIBEL, 52 founder of Sol y Luna Lodge, Peru


“We started the hotel in 2000 to finance our foundation, which runs a school with 220 children, plus a centre for children with different abilities and a children’s home. “We had 120 staff on our property, we


are now down to 14. We had no choice but to reduce staff. We don’t have any way to keep them on. “Until there’s a vaccine or treatment


DANIE VAN ZYL, 45 owner of Khamkirri lodge near Augrabies Falls National Park, South Africa


“Our Easter weekend is normally booked out six to seven months before, and we were fully booked for almost the whole of April. On Easter weekend alone, we lost about R200,000 (£8,700), because it’s not just the deposits we paid back, but the meals, the activities – game drives, river rafting, barge cruises – and drinks at the bar. All those things add up. “We decided we’d pay our staff from


our rainy-day fund and we’re keeping busy fixing up mountain bike trails and roads. Financially it’s crippling, but in a personal capacity it’s been amazing – spending time with our sons, camping and fishing, even home-schooling. It’s given us time to think about what bits of the business we need to concentrate on.”


for the virus, nobody is going to want to travel. We don’t have a local market, it’s all from the US, Europe or Australia, so our clientele is not going to travel to us in the next nine months to a year. “Our main concern is cashflow. I


have to look after the property and the gardens so all the investment we’ve made will not be lost. The other worry is how to finance the school and the orphanage – 90% of sponsorship or donations we get comes from the tourism industry in the UK and US. I will do whatever I can to make sure I don’t close down the orphanage or the school.”


travelweekly.co.uk 7 MAY 2020 SPECIAL REPORT


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