The impact of COVID-19 on cross border road transport industry

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on cross-border road transport sector, particularly within the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The pandemic has caused significant disruption to passenger (bus and taxi), tourism, and freight transport, prompting the adoption of digital solutions and adaptive strategies to ensure continuity. The aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, saw the emergence of the Malayisha industry, which serves to highlight the importance of coordinated regional policies and technology adoption. Despite the challenges, the freight transport sector has shown remarkable resilience, ensuring the delivery of essential goods and business continuity. The tourism sector is still in recovery, but there are encouraging signs of improvement. The paper suggests that there is a need for technological synchronisation, harmonisation of regulations, and futures thinking to drive the cross-border road transport industry towards sustainability in the post-pandemic landscape. The objective of the paper is to provide an analysis of the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on the cross-border road transport industry.