04 Jul 2014

The recent listing of Okavango Delta as a world heritage site requires all stakeholders to raise their standards as tourists will be flogging to the site.

Speaking at a press briefing on the nomination of the delta, the Minister of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism, Mr Tshekedi Khama said stakeholders who have been affected by the listing must come to the party and raise their standards.

“Organisations such as Air Botswana must up their game and improve their services in anticipation of tourists who will be coming here to see the newly-listed delta,” he said. He also challenged the hotel and hospitality industry to live up to the standards that have been set by the listing of the delta.

“Lodges in the delta are some of the best because they have strict and defined standards which they have set for themselves,” he said, adding that “we must not be xenophobic, we must allow other people who have flourished in this sector to teach us how it is done.”

Minister Khama announced that the listing of the Okavango Delta as the iconic 1 000 was the highlight of the world heritage meeting. “It was wonderful, moving and emotional. The world appreciates us probably more than we do,” he said.

He said some of the benefits of listing include technical support on conservation from bodies such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

“Additionally the site will now use the UNESCO world heritage brand for its promotional purposes and the country will receive funding from the World Heritage Fund in the development of a management plan, monitoring and evaluation activities,” he said.

Botswana, he said, has taken a stand not to politicise its wildlife and has resisted being swayed by donor organisations that were only looking for their interests.

This, he explained, has come at a cost as the country receives less funding compared to other countries in areas pertaining to conservation and wildlife management. A total of 26 sites were listed at this year’s session with Okavango Delta being the only one from Africa.

The inscription of the delta as a heritage site was special in the sense that countries agreed to give way to an African site to be listed as the symbolic 1 000th.  Minister Khama announced that 16 black rhinos have been delivered to the Okavango Delta as a gift. ends