Innovative community ecotourism coping and recovery strategies to COVID-19 pandemic shocks: The case of Mahenye

Figures & data

Figure 1. Location of Mahenye in southeast Zimbabwe (Source: Authors).

Table 1. Proposed management framework for community ecotourism to cope and recover from COVID-19 shocks (Source: Authors).

COVID-19 shock	Elements impacted	Management coping and recovery strategies	Livelihood outcomes
Reduced photographic and hunting ecotourism visitation	-Beneficiaries -Marketing -Amenities -Linkages	Short-term -Aggressive marketing -Lobbying for government support -Promoting domestic ecotourism visitation Long-term -Broadening livelihood options -Promoting domestic ecotourism visitation -Lobbying for government support	-More income to project -Increased community well-being
Increased poaching incidences	-Wildlife resources -Beneficiaries -Marketing -Linkages -Attraction	Short-term -Capacity building -Promoting effective stakeholder interactions Long-term -Broadening livelihood options	-Improved conservation outcomes
Economic downturn	-Beneficiaries -Marketing -Amenities -Management system -Accessibility	Short-term -Aggressive marketing -Capacity building -Promoting effective stakeholder interactions -Lobbying for government support Long-term Lobbying for government support	-Reduced vulnerability to shock
Further international hunting and wildlife trade bans	-Beneficiaries -Marketing -Linkages -Attraction	Short-term -Developing an international hunting code of ethics -Lobbying to have bans removed Long-term -Promoting multiple sources of income	-More sustainable use of natural resources base -Improved supply of meat protein and food security