Africa-Press – Botswana. Tourism tour operators offering excursions in Chobe National Park experienced a surge in business over the weekend, thanks to the Kazungula Bridge Marathon.
In an interview, Mr Jephat Pitso, the director of Bush Mac Safaris & Tours, mentioned that the marathon resulted in increased visitors participating in various activities like game drives, boat cruises, and Victoria Falls tours.
Mr Pitso noted that boat cruising was particularly popular during this time, as marathon participants preferred it over early morning game drives. He emphasised that Chobe’s rich wildlife and the scenic Chobe River made it a distinctive destination for sightseeing, leading tourists to spend on tourism and hospitality services like Bush Mac Safaris & Tours.
He stressed the importance of collaboration between marathon organisers and tourism operators to level the playing field for smaller businesses. Mr Pitso also pointed out the disadvantage faced by emerging local mobile safari companies, as many tourists tend to choose activities offered by their accommodations rather than independent operators.
To ensure that smaller companies benefit from marathon-related opportunities, Pitso recommended active involvement of small businesses in planning and logistics by the event organisers. He also advised clients to book activities in advance to fully enjoy the Chobe experience, citing instances where last-minute bookings caused missed opportunities for visitors.
Mr Chapman Mohinde, the president of the Tourism Freelancers Association, highlighted the increase in bookings over the weekend due to the marathon activities. Despite February not being a peak tourism season, the marathon helped boost business for operators in the area.
Mohinde called for Botswana Tourism Organization (BTO) to engage in consultations with Chobe businesses prior to future marathons, emphasizing the importance of fair distribution of clients to ensure equal opportunities for both small and large operators to benefit from such events.
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