IMPACT OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC TO MEETINGS, INCENTIVES, CONFERENCES AND EXHIBITIONS (MICE) TOURISM IN RWANDA

Abstract

Since the beginning of 2020 COVID-19 engulfed the world halting the daily activities. In a matter of weeks, the pandemic had threatened health and lives of millions of people worldwide. By the last quarter of the month of March 2020 several countries in the world including Rwanda had imposed travel restrictions and lockdown measures to combat COVID-19 pandemic. This led to unprecedented levels of mass commercial flight cancellations and travel restrictions, forcing millions to alter their travel plans. Both international and domestic tourists cancelled bookings in Rwanda and outbound tourism activities were also banned. Airlines had cancelled flights, while hotels were almost completely vacant. Consequently, tour operators were facing huge economic losses and employment cuts in Rwanda. According to the Minister for Trade and Industry, Soraya by July 21st 2020 Rwanda’s MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) industry had been hit by a $48 million (over Rwf45 billion) loss as a result of the global Covid-19 crisis. The purpose of this paper was to discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism in Rwanda. The study covered a period of 7 months (December, 2019- July, 2020). The study adopted a descriptive survey design. 36 general managers of hotels offering MICE tourism for a period of three years from 2017-2020 in Kigali Province were targeted. A sample of 34 respondents was determined from this population using purposive sampling technique. Both primary and secondary data was collected. Primary data was collected using the questionnaire while for secondary data the study reviewed journals, historical records, newspaper articles, World Health Organization statistics, government data, and website materials on COVID-19 incidences in tourism. Data analysis was done with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 21. The study findings revealed that 58.8% of the respondents strongly agreed that COVID-19 created conditions and disruptions forcing socio-behavioural changes on societies. In addition, 76.5% of the respondents strongly agreed that MICE consumers in Rwanda had been seriously curtailed by the pandemic. Moreover, 64.7% of the respondents agreed that their hotel expectations of the right to unfettered mobility across national borders has been severely challenged by government responses to COVID-19, 35.3%. Furthermore, a combination of (82.4%) of the respondents agreed that closure of attractions and tourism facilities had negatively affected the MICE tourism. Lastly, 61.8% agreed that virtual events mainly served as a good substitute for recession-prone exhibitors and attendees during COVID-19 while 32.8% strongly agreed. A half of the respondents representing 50% also strongly agreed that travel restrictions on rights to visit friends and family had negatively impacted the MICE tourism. From the review of respondents, the study noted that MICE consumers had not only been affected in Rwanda alone but globally. In general, there was no doubt that the hospitality and tourism sector was operating at a loss. The study concluded that in Rwanda, COVID-19 had adversely impacted MICE tourism.