28 Apr 2014

Lodges that do bookings and offer payment transactions processed outside Botswana leave room for one to wonder how much of the proceeds ever circulate in Botswana’s economy, the chief executive of Botswana Investment Trade Centre, Mr Letsebe Sejoe has said.

Speaking at the Hotel and Tourism Association of Botswana (HATAB) annual conference in Kasane on April 25, Mr Sejoe said this model should lead to the establishment of back office operations for bookings in Botswana to create employment for Batswana.

“There is an opportunity for the sector to demonstrate leadership and start to genuinely and voluntarily address these challenges,” he noted.

Mr Sejoe also noted that there was an opportunity for tourism product diversification such as recreational water activities, cultural tourism, scenic and historic sites offered at non-traditional regions such as Ghanzi.

“In order to achieve long term sustainability, a sector that exploits natural and heritage assets must necessarily be intertwined in a symbiotic relationship with the national economic aspirations of the country that is endowed with these resources,” he advised.

In his keynote address, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism, Mr Neil Fitt, said organisations such as Air Botswana needed to up their game and not cause hiccups as partakers in the tourism sector.

Mr Fitt said internet and communications rates were too costly and connectivity around the country needed to be improved as tourists love to be able to keep in touch through social networks when outside their countries. He warned that such factors influenced which countries tourists settled for.

“We have a product called Botswana, so let us keep it pristine and let us keep it quality,” he said, imploring stakeholders to work together for the good of the industry.

He promised that in the next six to nine months, there would be a lot of changes that would facilitate the business aspect of things and reduce bureaucracy.

Mr Fitt said Botswana Tourism Organisation would be made to focus more on marketing and educating the world about Botswana.

“Then of course we will be taking you on board to market your products,” he told the tour operators.

He also told tour operators that their job was to facilitate not frustrate customers. He announced that there would be a cluster coordinator by May 1 to facilitate the industry to move forward. Ends