Assessing the contributions of hunting tourism to the South African economy: a post-covid analysis

Context Previous research has acknowledged that hunting tourism significantly contributes to South Africa’s economy. The literature review revealed that most of the research in South Africa was conducted before the advent of COVID-19. Aim This research endeavour, pioneering in its scope, sought to ascertain the collective economic significance of both international and local hunters in South Africa and, consequently, to delineate the economic impact of the hunting industry in South Africa by examining the post-COVID expenditure patterns of both international and domestic hunting tourists within the country. Method A quantitative research approach involving surveys amongst both national and international hunting tourists was adopted. The South African Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) was used in the multiplier analysis. Key results The result revealed that hunting tourism’s total impact on the South African economy is USD2.5 billion. Hunting represents a production multiplier of 2.97, indicating that for every USD1 spent by hunting tourists, production increases by an additional USD1.97. Agriculture, trade, accommodation, and personal services are the industry sectors most dependent on hunting tourism. Conclusion In conclusion, this research determined the collective economic significance of hunting tourism in South Africa. Implications The implication is that hunting tourism directly and indirectly supports and expands job creation in rural areas; indirectly, it contributes to conservation initiatives and facilitates job creation in South Africa.