Resilience and Adaptation Strategies for the Franschhoek Rond and Bont Community-based Tourism Route during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Drawing on the resilience theory, this qualitative study analyses adaptation strategies for the Franschhoek Rond and Bont community-based tourism (CBT) route in South Africa using facetoface interviews with thirteen route stakeholders in the Franschhoek Valley. The empirical findings highlight the severity of the effects of the pandemic-induced regulations on businesses along the route. Insights from the study could facilitate recovery efforts by the route’s stakeholders, but underlying prepandemic challenges exacerbated the adverse effects of the pandemic, which hindered the successful implementation of proposed recovery strategies. The study reveals post-pandemic resilience and adaptation strategies for the future-proof sustainability of the CBT sector and provides fresh insights into proposed innovative planning and strategy implications for stakeholders.