University of East London

Masters of Business Administration

Topic: “Public Perception Of Omicron Variant And Its Effect On Nigeria Air

Travellers”

Chiduzie Jamie - U576R784841

September 18th 2023

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the study

Coronavirus (COVID-19) and its variants airborne illness, has been the largest game-

changer in terms of pure devastation for both the aviation and tourist and all sectors

nation’s economy. Amoke (2021) stressed that however, in early 2020, the aviation

industry was drastically revolutionized by the breakout and fast spread of COVID-19,

which devastated the whole planet in a matter of months. Therefore people’s

unwillingness to travel during a worldwide epidemic has had a negative influence on

the aviation and tourist industries, coupled with the travel restrictions imposed by

nations throughout the world. The aim of this study is to determine the impact of the

Omicron variant of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on passenger air transport,

travel and tourism in South Africa. The Omicron restrictions severely impacted

passenger traffic and tourism flow to South Africa (IATA Economics 2022). This

study determines and quantifies the impact of the foreign Omicron restrictions on the

recovery of passenger traffic flow and tourism’s contribution to the gross domestic

product (GDP) and employment. Social value This study demonstrates that the

recovery in international and regional passenger traffic to and from South Africa and

neighbouring states from an initial complete lockdown was interrupted by the

Omicron restrictions by governments of important tourism source markets, (IATA

Economics 2022)
Notably, the out break of Covid-19 led to upsurge in health crisis globally from its

first mention in Wuhan China disrupting not just health but social and economic

activities.Astonishingly, in the first three months after COVID-19 emerged Wuhan

City, Hubei Province, China, a devastating number of new cases were reported across

China and several countries around the world. And it was finally declared as a global

pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 2020 (WHO 2020).

Evidence indicates that COVID-19 transmitted through respiratory droplets via

contact routes such as the mouth, nose, and conjunctiva or eyes (UNICEF 2020).

Ogundipe, Obinna, Erunke & Olawale (2021) opined that in more severe situations,

infection can result in pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, and, in extreme

cases, death. To prevent the spread of COVID-19, standard recommendations include

frequent hand washing with an alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water, covering

the nose and mouth with a flexed elbow or disposable tissue when coughing and

sneezing, and avoiding close contact with anyone who has a fever and cough

(Ogundipe, Obinna, Erunke & Olawale 2021).

Conversely, several coronavirus variations have arisen throughout the COVID-19

pandemic as the virus, SARS-CoV-2 continues to change and adapt. This Gilbertson

(2021) opined that many of the changes in these variations have little or no effect on

how the virus affects humans. Hence, additional factors, such as genetic modifications

in the delta variant, can make the coronavirus more transmissible (contagious) than

the initial version of SARS-CoV-2 found in late 2019 of which a case of such

modification includes the novel Omicron Variant. The World Health Organization

dubbed omicron after a version of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus that appeared in

Health Organization (Ogundipe, Obinna, Erunke & Olawale 2021).

According to According to Anyu (2021), Preliminary evidence suggests there may be

an increased risk of reinfection with Omicron (ie, people who have previously had

COVID-19 could become reinfected more easily with Omicron), as compared to other

variants of concern, thus all variants of COVID-19, including the Delta variant that is

dominant worldwide, can cause severe disease or death, in particular for the most

vulnerable people, and thus prevention is always key.

1.2 Statement of the problem

According to experts, the Omicron variant was first detected in South Africa and then

found in a number of non-African countries (Gilbertson 2021). This disease has

resulted in travel bans from many countries, which has had a significant impact on

airlines. Travel bans and flight restrictions implemented by countries in order to

prevent the spread of the Omicron strain have caused anxiety for global and Nigerian

airlines (Eze 2021). There have been travel bans from and to various countries since

the emergence of the omicron variant. According to Ogundipe, Obinna, Erunke, and

Olawale, numerous experts, including the World Health Organization, have criticized

the travel restrictions as discriminatory (2021).

As a result, Nigeria was added to the UK’s red list earlier this week, making it the

eleventh African nation to do so, amid worries that visitors from the country might

help spread the omicron COVID-19 strain in the UK. In response to the ban, some
Nigerians believe it is racist that the UK only has African countries on its red list,

despite the growing prevalence of omicron outside of Africa, as confirmed by the fact

that anyone returning from Nigeria will be subjected to high quarantine fees, which is

essentially health apartheid (https://www.dw.com/en/nigerians-are-upset-over-uks-

omicron-travel-ban/). Furthermore, several Nigerian merchants believe that the UK

travel restriction would make conducting business between the two nations much

more difficult, affecting both countries’ economies (DW.com 2021). However there

are few studies regarding how the debut Omicron variant will affect traveller and to

fill the literature gap on this area compelled the researcher to examine public

perception of public perception of omicron variant and its effect on Nigeria air

traveller.

1.3 Objective of the Study

The broad objective of this study is to examine perception of public perception of

omicron variant and its effect on Nigeria air traveller. Specifically the study seeks to:

Examine if Omicron Variant will limit travelers accessibility to desired countries.

Investigate if Omicron Variant will restrict traveler freedom of movement when they

reach their destination.

Determine if Omicron Variant will affect the finance of travelers as they are meant to

spend more for quarantine fees.

Ascertain if the Omicron Variant will impact traveler’s susceptibility of traveller and

lead to their stigmatization.

1.4 Research Questions

Will Omicron Variant will restrict traveler freedom of movement when they reach

their destination?

Will Omicron Variant will affect the finance of travelers as they are meant to spend

more for quarantine fees?

Will Omicron Variant will impact traveler’s susceptibility of traveller and lead to their

stigmatization?

1.5 Significance of the study

This study will be greatly significant to the aviation industry as the findings of this

study will show the implications, effects and the challenges of the omicron variant on

travelers. Additionally, subsequent researchers will use it as a literature review. This

means that other scholars who may decide to conduct studies in this area will have the

opportunity to use this study as available literature that can be subjected to critical

review. Invariably, the result of the study contributes immensely to the body of

academic knowledge concerning omicron variant of the COVID 19 and the aviation

industry.

1.6 Scope of the Study

The scope of this study borders on perception of public perception of omicron variant

and its effect on Nigeria air traveller. It examined if Omicron Variant will limit

travelers accessibility to desired countries. It Investigated if Omicron Variant will

restrict traveler freedom of movement when they reach their destination. It determined
if Omicron Variant will affect the finance of travelers as they are meant to spend more

for quarantine fees. It ascertained if the Omicron Variant will impact traveler’s

susceptibility of traveller and lead to their stigmatization.

1.7 Limitation of the study

Like in every human endeavour, the researchers encountered slight constraints while

carrying out the study. The significant constraint was the scanty literature on the

subject owing to the nature of the discourse thus the researcher incurred more

financial expenses and much time was required in sourcing for the relevant materials,

literature, or information and in the process of data collection, which is why the

researcher resorted to a limited choice of sample size. Additionally, the researcher

will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. More so, the

choice of the sample size was limited as few respondent of airline travelers were

selected to answer the research instrument hence cannot be generalize to other

corporate organizations. However, despite the constraint encountered during the

research, all factors were downplayed in other to give the best and make the research

successful.

1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Implications: the conclusion that can be drawn from something although it is not

explicitly stated.
Omicron variant: The Omicron variant is a variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that

causes COVID-19. It was first reported to the World Health Organization from South

Africa on 24 November 2021. On 26 November 2021, the WHO designated it as a

variant of concern and named it after omicron, the fifteenth letter in the Greek

alphabet

Airline: an organization providing a regular public service of air transport on one or

more routes.

Air travel restrictions and regulatory directives is the setting for this

study.Coronavirus disease 2019 was declared as a pandemic on 11 March 2020 by the

World Health Organization (WHO) as it posed a global risk to human health and

global economies (Sun et al. 2021).The COVID-19 crisis quickly spread globally as

governments worldwide (including the South African Government) started to

implement widespread lockdown measures (Suau-Sanchez, Voltes-Dorta & Cugueró-

Escofet 2020).The South African Government declared a National State of Disaster

on 15 March 2020, which initially resulted in an effective complete lockdown of all

movement from 27 March 2020. The National State of Disaster remained in place for

750 days (Ramaphosa 2022).Four significant COVID-19 variants of concern (VOCs)

affected international air travel demand to and from South Africa:• Beta variant first

detected in South Africa (Epicentre 2021).• Gamma variant first detected in Brazil

(Epicentre 2021).• Delta variant was first detected in India, which affected

international air traffic from April, May to July 2021 (ACSA 2021:12).• The

Omicron variant was first identified in South Africa on 24 November 2021 but was

probably detected in Western Europe prior to its identification in South Africa

documented in India in October 2020. • Omicron variants, documented in multiple

countries in November 2021 (WHO 2022), including: Omicron BA.1 documented in

South Africa and Botswana in November 2021; Omicron BA.1.1 (or Nextstrain clade

21K) was documented in South Africa in November 2021 (ECDC 2022; and Omicron

‘stealth’ variant BA.2 (or Nextstrain clade 21L) (WHO Statement 2022).Current

circulating variants of interest (VOIs) are: ß Omicron BA.4 documented in South

Africa in January 2022; and ß Omicron BA.5 was documented in South Africa in

February 2022 (ECDC 2022). Current circulating variants under monitoring (VUMs)

are: ß XD, France, NTD Delta-like; remaining Omicron-like, identified in January

2022; and ß Omicron BA.3 (z) was documented in South Africa in November 2021

(ECDC 2022; WHO 2022).Omicron has several sub-lineages monitored by WHO.

The most common are BA.1, BA.1.1 (or Nextstrain clade 21K), the most common

Omicron sub-lineage and BA.2 (or Nextstrain clade 21L). The proportion of reported

sequences designated BA.2 increased relative to BA.1 although the global circulation

of all variants is declining. BA.2 appears inherently more transmissible than BA.1,

which was reported (WHO Statement 2022).De Oliveira (2022c), T. graphically

illustrated the occurrence of the different COVID-19 variants (sub-lineages) in South

Africa based on the 7-day average number of daily cases. The BA.2 variant is referred

to as the ‘stealth variant’ because of being harder to identify. A missing gene in BA.1

allowed it to be identified through a standard polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test.

However, BA.2 and BA.3, can only be identified using genomic sequencing (Rigby &

Steenhuysen 2022).
In mid-February 2022, the Institut Pasteur in Paris identified a new genetic sequence

of the Coronavirus. Most of its genetic sequence was the same as Delta’s, but part of

the sequence came from Omicron. It is now called Deltacron and has been identified

in France, the Netherlands, Denmark, the USA and the UK (O’Neill 2022). A new

recombinant variant, XE, was spreading in the UK after being detected on 19 January

2022. XE has three mutations that are not present in all BA.1 or BA.2 strains and has

also been found in India and Thailand on 06 April 2022 and 04 April 2022 in

Mumbai. Two other recombinant lineages, namely, XF and XD (in France), formed

by the recombination between Delta and Omicron BA.1 are also being monitored

(Oaklander 2022).The lifting of most COVID-19 restrictions, waning immunity from

vaccines and booster shots and the spread of the more transmissible omicron

subvariant, BA.2 resulted in a rise in cases (across the EU, especially in France,

Denmark, Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Italy and Austria and the UK). The

omicron subvariant became the dominant lineage by week 7 of 2022. The WHO

stated that this trend is most pronounced in the South-East Asia Region, followed by

the Eastern Mediterranean and the Americas region (Ellyatt 2022; O’Neill 2022).The

BA.2 variant was the most common (76.1% of infections) variant in England, Wales,

Northern Ireland and Scotland by 13 March 2022 (Ellyatt 2022). In the USA, the

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that the BA.2 cases accounted for

34.9% of US cases. However, the overall number of infections was still declining

from the record highs seen in January (Ellyatt 2022). According to WHO, BA.2

represented nearly 86% of all sequenced cases. It is even more transmissible than

other highly contagious Omicron siblings, BA.1 and BA.1.1 but does not cause severe

disease (Rigby & Steenhuysen 2022).

Anyu Liu (2021). COVID-19 and the aviation industry: The interrelationship between

the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and the frequency of flights on the EU market

Accessed from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8426192/

Chinedu Eze (2021). Nigeria: Aviation Industry’s Slow Recovery From Covid-19

Devastation. Accessed from: https://allafrica.com/stories/202107300148.html

Chong KC, Ying Zee BC. Modeling the impact of air, sea, and land travel restrictions

Dawn Gilbertson (2021): The omicron variant has sparked new travel restrictions. Are

more COVID rules ahead?. Accessed from:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/airline-news/2021/11/26/covid-travel-

restrictions-omicron-white-house-ban-africa/8764805002/

Hollingsworth TD, Ferguson NM, Anderson RM. (2006) Will travel restrictions

control the international spread of pandemic influenza? Nat Med.

Oluwatomisim Amoke (2021). Aviation industry flies up in post-COVID 19

resurgence. Accessed from: https://thenationonlineng.net/aviation-industry-flies-up-

in-post-covid-19-resurgence/

Sola Ogundipe, Health Editor, Chioma Obinna, Joseph Erunke & Gabriel Olawale
 (2021) “Why travel bans won’t work”. Accessed from:

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/11/why-travel-ban-wont-work-who-nids-nma/