COVID-19, Tourist Destinations and Prospects for Recovery

Kaitano Dube (PhD University of South Africa) is an Associate Professor of Tourism Geography at the Vaal University of Technology in South Africa. He is currently Faculty of Human Science Research, Innovation and Commercialisation Professor (acting) and Ecotourism Management lecturer. He is a South African National Research Foundation Y2 Rated Researcher who has supervised a number of Masters students and hosted 2 Post-Doctoral Fellows. He is an Associate Editor for Cogent Social Sciences (tourism section) and Frontiers in Sustainable Tourism. He is an Editor for Tourism Geographies. His research interests have been in tourism, climate change, aviation and COVID-19. He has co-authored 1 book and edited 3 published books, and published several book chapters and more than 30 journal articles in high-impact peer-reviewed journals within a short period. He advises several governments and local government institutions on tourism and tourism development within Africa.

Godwell Nhamo (PhD Rhodes University) is a Full Professor and Chief Researcher under the Exxaro Chair in Climate and Sustainability Transitions at the University of South Africa. He is a National Research Foundation C-Rated researcher undertaking research in COVID-19 and Tourism, Climate Change and Sustainable Development. Prof Nhamo has published 17 books (13 edited and 4 co-authored) and over 101 journal articles, and since 2013, he has graduated 11 PhDs and hosted 11 postdoctoral fellows. Prof Nhamo is also one of the experts for the Non-economic Losses Group under the UNFCCC Warsaw International Mechanisms on Loss and Damage.

Nellie (Magdalena Petronella) Swart is an Associate Professor in Tourism at the University of South Africa and a Certified Meeting Professional. She holds a DCom in Leadership Performance and Change (University of Johannesburg). Nellie authored and co-authored accredited journal articles, book chapters and many accredited conference proceedings. Her community engagement project includes the offering of various guest lectures as part of the National Department of Tourism’s capacity building and tourism educator development programmes. Nellie is an executive committee member of the Tourism Educators South Africa (TESA) and the Department of Tourism’s Strategic Human Resources Development Committee.  She has organised several local and international conferences. Prof Swart is a Certified Meeting Professional. She holds a DCom in Leadership Performance and Change. Nellie authored and co-authored accredited journal articles, book chapters, and several accredited conference proceedings and has organised local and international conferences.