Africa-Press – Botswana. Upon assuming office in 2018, President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi promised Batswana that government will put in place measures to increase citizen participation in the tourism sector.
One such measure was to make ensure adherence to tourism regulations. This was to be done in order to accommodate reservation of some license categories for Batswana to increase citizen participation in the tourism sector.
Years later, President Masisi’s promise is being realised through diversification of tourism products that are driving citizen participation in the tourism industry.
The number of citizen-owned enterprises has been steadily rising owing to increased outreach programmes aimed at sensitising people on tourism opportunities.
As at February, there were 3 014 licensed tourist enterprises, out of which 2 438 were citizen-owned, 294 non-citizen and 282 being joint ventures.
Other key initiatives include development of Mohembo (Shakawe), Kasane-Kazungula redevelopment plan to transform these areas into viable, vibrant tourism destinations.
In Kasane, the relocation of property to release the tourism sites is 82 per cent complete, while in Mohembo potential tourism sites have just been identified.
Minister of Environment and Tourism, Ms Phildah Kereng, highlighted that Botswana aspired to be a Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) hub as reflected in the revised Tourism Policy of 2021.
She highlighted that ministries, private sector and other stakeholders had hosted several conferences in the past few years which placed Botswana on a reputable position as a MICE hub.
She said her ministry successfully hosted a number of events such as the 7th National Adaptation Plans Global Expo in Gaborone in August last year, the Africa Tourism Leadership Forum (ATLF) in Gaborone in October last year and Botswana Travel and Tourism Expo 2022 in Kasane last November.
“These events attracted more than 1 300 participants from around the world and our commitment is to work with the hospitality industry to train and assist in giving guidance for improvement of facilities,’’ she said.
Furthermore, Ms Kereng said in a quest to promote investment in the tourism sector, the ministry would host the Tourism Investment Summit in September.
The summit will provide a platform where potential investors in the tourism sector will engage to showcase available investment opportunities in the sector and provide possible partnership opportunities between citizens and international investors and development agencies.
Meanwhile, Botswana successfully hosted the Forbes 30 Under 30 Summit last year and will once again host it in April 23-26. The summit nurtures and harnesses the spirit of entrepreneurship in young people and also presents vast opportunities for attendees to explore.
Other events that underscore Citizen Economic Empowerment are Makgadikgadi Epic, Khawa Dune Challenge and Cultural Festival, Nama stap and Dithubaruba Cultural Festivals, Kazungula Marathon, Selebi Phikwe Orange Marathon, Tour De Tuli Mountain Bike Adventure, Inter Village Cultural Games at Jamataka, Makubo and Natale, Brush Night with Wilson Ngoni, Desert Bush Walk, Annual Ghanzi Show, Maun Carnival as well as horse race derby in Maun and Dinokeng Fish Festival in Kgatleng.
During the 2022/2023 financial year, the Ministry of Environment and Tourism initiated the development of the Khuis Tourism Park; resuscitation of the Phuduhudu Cultural Village, development of an entrance gate to the Central Kalahari Game Reserve through Tsetseng, community camp site in Khawa, development of an entrance gate to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (KTP) approximately 30km from Khawa, refurbishment of five camping grounds in the Kgalagadi North region (Masetlheng, Zutshwa, Ngwatle, Ncaang and Ukhwi). Furthermore, the ministry rehabilitated the 40km Tuli backline fence in Bobirwa, implemented in collaboration with the private sector, as a mitigation strategy against human-wildlife conflict completed in December last year.
Rehabilitation of Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and Khutse Game Reserve Predator Proof Fences are ongoing and expected to be completed by August this year.
The economic empowerment drive continued through the implementation of dams tourism, where re-tendering process commenced for the remaining vacant sites at Shashe, Letsibogo and Thune Dams.
President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi’s initiative of keeping game animals at the fields, commonly known as masimo continues to bear fruits as 261 Batswana have been issued with permits to uptake the programme.
This is one of the President’s initiatives, which aims to drive economic diversification and citizen economic empowerment through natural resources management.
Through this initiative, Batswana are encouraged to utilise their fields and partake in agro-tourism activities in order to derive benefits from the tourism sector.
Director of the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) Dr Kabelo Senyatso revealed that to date, a total of 289 applications had been received, of which 261 had been approved, with 377 game animals allocated to 67 farmers. He said his department continued to intensify public awareness to enhance the uptake of the programme.
“Our department has embarked on efforts to ensure the districts that have not benefited from the scheme do so. One such was the hosting of the World Wildlife Day 2023 in Ghanzi, where the department exhibited live animals. This was in an effort to enable Ghanzi residents to interact with these animals and hopefully be more interested in partaking in the scheme.” He said.
Furthermore, Dr Senyatso indicated that the majority of the 67 beneficiaries who had received game animals had operational game viewing.
The Director stated that they started inspections in masimo that had been issued with permits where they had observed many positives accrued from this initiative. He said there was increased tourist traffic to the farms as owners had enhanced the tourism products on offer.
“A successful breeding, notably for Impala has been realized in some of the farms, which improves chances of success, and the farmers feel empowered as they now see themselves as part of the wildlife economy, unlike previously when this opportunity was largely for those with game ranches.” He added.
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