Africa-Press – Botswana. Managing director and owner of Ta Shebube lodges, Prof. Shabani Ndzinge has called for a review of Kalahari Transfrontier Park regulations.
Ta Shebube is a lodging Botswana company located on two rivers along the Nossop river near the Kalahari Trans Frontier Park in the Kgalagadi South District.
Debating the topic: How tourism can diversify the economy,? at the ongoing two-day HATAB conference in Maun recently, Prof. Ndzinge argued that the current framework, established 25 years ago, disproportionately benefited one country (South Africa) and failed to maximise the economic benefits for the other partners (Botswana and Namibia).
He contended that regulations, which differed from Botswana’s own tourism laws, needed updating to create a more equitable sharing of benefits from the park for all three partner countries, Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa.
“The current regulations disproportionately favour one nation, hindering Botswana’s potential gains from the KTP. This includes the use of a different legal framework than that of Botswana,” he said.
The conference, themed: Botswana Tourism: What are the conditions for growth?, also saw discussion on broader regulatory reform within Botswana tourism sector.
Prof. Ndzinge also highlighted the need to review outdated regulations and expanding tourism activities beyond the Ngamiland and Chobe regions, exploring opportunities in areas such as Tuli Block and Central Kalahari Game Reserve.
Such diversification, he said was vital for attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and bolstering economic growth, particularly given the challenges facing the diamond sector.
Chobe Holdings Chief Executive Officer, Mr John Gibson emphasised the significant contribution of tourism to Botswana’s GDP and the importance of strategic, sustainable investments in the sector. Along with other panellists, he stressed the need for collaborative efforts between government and private sector to develop effective solutions.
Wilderness Safaries CEO, Mr Keith Vincent highlighted the urgent need to leverage post-COVID-19 recovery in international travel, adding that Botswana could take advantage of the development and invest in tourism, which is now the new engine of economic growth.
He said the tourism industry was prone to corruption given its lucrative market and therefore, important to come up with laws that prevented the would be corruptors.
Meanwhile, 40-year veteran of the tourism industry, Mr Dereck Joubert stressed the importance of Botswana’s unique tourism model and the need for strong regulations to combat corruption within the sector.
Along with Chief Executive Officer for Great Plans Conservation they emphasised the need for a balance between wildlife conservation and human well-being, recognising the interdependence of both for sustainable tourism development.
The debate underscored a broad consensus on the need for regulatory modernisation and strategic planning to fully realise Botswana’s tourism potential.
Earlier, Minister of Tourism and Environment, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi acknowledged the debate within Botswana’s hospitality sector sparked by the recent introduction of adjusted per diem rates for civil servants, which resulted in a shift in accommodation choices, with a decrease in bookings at hotels and lodges and a corresponding increase in demand for guesthouses.
He observed that budgetary constraints resulting from the new rates may be influencing accommodation decisions. He said his ministry planned to engage with relevant stakeholders to explore solutions that addressed the concerns raised by the hospitality industry.
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