Africa-Press – Botswana. The Ministry of Environment and Tourism is implementing the National Tourism Strategy and Master Plan (NTSMP), which is now aligned to the National Transformation Strategy (NTS), anchored on four key pillars.
Speaking during the Hospitality and Tourism Association Botswana (HATAB) conference in Maun yesterday, the tourism minister, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi said the strategy focused on pillars such as enabling environment, marketing and branding, product strengthening and diversification as well as infrastructure and support services.
To guide such development, the country he said was divided into eight Tourism Development Areas (TDAs), adding that the ministry made significant progress in three key TDAs. He cited one in Gaborone that identified five sites, including Main Mall, Khama Crescent, Central Business Development (CBD), Green Link, and Old Naledi adding that concept designs were currently underway.
Another TDA he mentioned was Chobe, highlighting that through Kasane-Kazungula Redevelopment Project, four key sites were being allocated to investors which were a Residential Eco-Estate, Kasane Marina, Multi-Use Event Centre and Hotel, and the Kazungula Waterfront.
As for the one at Panhandle/Okavango, he said a layout plan for tourism around Mohembo Bridge had been developed, and site assessments and land acquisition were in progress.
In addition, Mr Mmolotsi said the ministry was supporting eight regional community museums across the country, working to safeguard Botswana’s rich heritage collections.
“These community museums serve as guardians of our history and as platforms for cultural education and tourism development.
Through the “Adopt a Museum” program, we are actively pursuing partnerships with members of the public, non-governmental organisations, and the business community to support management and conservation of Botswana’s cultural and natural heritage sites,” he added.
The initiative, he said aimed to strengthen cultural heritage facilities, enabling them to preserve and conserve the national treasures. By doing so, Mr Mmolotsi said they wanted to ensure sustainability of the cultural heritage tourism product, an essential component of the broader tourism offering.
The gathering also learnt that the ministry was reviewing key tourism legislation, including the Tourism Act of 2009, to streamline licensing and foster a more investor friendly environment.
In addition, Mr Mmolotsi said the Forest Act (1968) was also being reviewed, adding that the ministry was in the process of tabling Community-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) bill in the winter session of Parliament to help strengthen community involvement in tourism.
“We have amended the Wildlife Conservation and National Parks Act (2023) which will empower anti-poaching personnel to carry appropriate firearms to combat poaching activities in the country. Botswana tourism is predominantly wildlife-based, this calls for concerted efforts to ensure protection of the biodiversity,” said Mr Mmolotsi.
Such efforts, he said included transforming and strengthening the department of Wildlife and National Parks to enable it better respond to emerging challenges. With regard to infrastructure, connectivity and data, the minister said infrastructure was the backbone of tourism and through collaboration with other ministries, they were prioritising road, air and digital infrastructure that supported the sector.
He mentioned the progress of recent international routes introduced by Ethiopian Airlines and Fly Namibia, noting that Air link would increase flight frequency during the April 2025 peak season. Such developments, Mr Mmolotsi said enhanced connectivity, strengthen Botswana’s position as a premier tourism and investment destination.
The ministry, he said had also opened four routes in the riverfront at Chobe National Park to accommodate tourists while five new game view routes would be opened this year to further spread tourists along the riverfront so that they did not concentrate in one area.
Furthermore, the ministry, he said was working on opening roads in low-density tourism zones such as Nogatshaa Zweezwee to further attract tourists to other parts of Chobe National Park.
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