The Botswana Tourism Master Plan established four main guidelines for tourism development which are all interlinked to each other. These are product diversification, citizen/community participation/community empowerment, private/public sector partnership and ecological/economic sustainability.
The Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO) is striving to reach these goals through various community-driven heritage tourism projects that are currently being set up around the country. The BTO aims to diversify tourism products to lessen reliance on single products while simultaneously spreading tourist activities around Botswana. The projects are funded under a P15 million annual development budget.
Last week, BTO Chief Executive Officer, Myra Sekgororoane said in a press conference in Gaborone that, “Investment promotion into tourism is critical to the Tourism Strategy and in the short to medium term, our area of concentration is to geographically diversify our tourism products into areas such as culture, sports and heritage.”
Heritage projects include an eco-tourism pilot in Tsabong involving the use of camels, the Seboba project in Kasane involving the construction of a cultural village and recreational facility, working with the Moremi Manonnye Community Trust to use the Moremi Gorge for non-consumptive tourism activities, the development of tourism activities around the Gcwihaba Caves in partnership with the Xai Xai Community Trust and the development and marketing of numerous lodges. The BTO is also investigating the development of tourism activities around Botswana’s dams and opportunities in sport. The BTO sponsored the recent Gaborone City Marathon and will also be involved in the forthcoming Selebi-Phikwe Marathon.
From tikologo kolwe:
what are the benefits of tourism devolpment towards the people of moremi village
From tikologo kolwe:
what are the impact does the developmet of manonnye trust have on the enviroment
From margot:
With regard to the effect the project in the Moremi area will have on the environment (the building of a bridge along the Lotsane River, the construction of accommodation facilities and the development of walkways), the BTO has stated that it is a “non-consumptive tourism project”, and therefore shouldn’t have any negative effect on the national monument that is the Moremi Gorge. As well as this, Botswana law requires that all new development proposals complete an Environmental Impact Assessment.
From margot:
At the abovementioned press conference, Myra Sekgororoane stated: “It’s unsustainable to rely on one product especially when the product is one that we did not create such as safaris. These other tourism products can be created even where they do not exist naturally. Such a strategy will help push tourism to areas that are less developed in terms of tourism and even to cities and towns.”
It seems that the BTO has recognised that by diversifying tourism products and involving areas that are not as well known or popular as other Botswana destinations, tourism in other cities and towns can be developed, thus helping to develop these towns and cities themselves. This is in line with their Botswana Tourism Master Plan, as Botswana communities are getting involved which will hopefully result in community empowerment and further develop tourism in certain areas.
From Onalenna:
Tourism will play a very important role to the community of Moremi. It makes an important contribution to the quality of life, supporting facilities and services that benefit the whole community. It will also provide direct spending by tourists and the associated economic multiplier effect, a varied economic base- The expectations and needs of visitors can often lead to the creation of new businesses and commercial activities.It will create Employment- Tourism is a labour intensive industry and operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There are many opportunities for employment for young people and for people interested in part time or casual work. Creation of new business- A thriving tourism industry supports growth in other sectors, such as transport, construction, agriculture and retailing. As tourism increases, there are more opportunities for small business to developIncreasing community facilities- it will stimulate new and expanded community facilities and infrastructure initiatives, such as the improvement of retail, restaurant and entertainment options last but not least it leads to Preservation of cultural heritage.
From thabang:
what are the eco-tourism at kasane, and how does the community benefit from them?
From margot:
In Kasane, the BTO has said that they are working with the Seboba Community Trust to construct a cultural village and recreational facility on a prime piece of riverfront land between the Mowana Safari Lodge and the Prison farms.