17 Aug 2014

Minister of Environment Wildlife and Tourism, Mr Tshekedi Khama has said through the Makgadikgadi Epic initiative, they are working on diversifying the tourism industry because Botswana tourism is not only competing with the region but with the international community for tourists.

Minister Khama said at the Makgadikgadi Epic at Nata on August 15 that his ministry together with Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO) came up with the initiative in order to bring something different from the already existing initiatives such as the Tour de Tuli, Kgalagadi 1 000 Desert race and Khawa Dune challenge, which incorporate both arts and culture as an effort to up their game in the tough tourism industry.

He said with the new initiative held in a bird sanctuary, they want to keep out the motorised acts because they want to recognise the kind of tourism they have, which is different from the desert race and cycling challenges, as they are working towards pioneering a new version of tourism in the country.

“With this kind of initiative, we want to give our tourists vast diverse choice of tourism to choose from, instead of limiting them,” he said.

Earlier on in his welcome remarks, Kgosi Rebagamang Rancholo of Nata commended President Lieutenant General Seretse Khama Ian Khama for supporting Nata Sanctuary through the initiatives aimed at growing tourism in their area.

Welcoming guests at the event, Kgosi Rancholo highlighted that the sanctuary was established in 1992, but since then, it has never made profits.

He further noted that when it was established, it was intended to make revenue to be used to develop the four surrounding villages of Nata, Sepako, Manxotae and Maposa.

Kgosi Rancholo noted that they have only received little funds from the gate takings of people who came to see the sanctuary, which could not do much for the villages.

He therefore said with the intention of turning Makgadikgadi Epic into an annual event, he believes there will be a great outcome to change the current poor state of the place, which boasts of a unique natural resource of the wild life, particularly the bird spices.

Furthermore, he also appealed to other stakeholders to come on board and join hands with government to assist in the development of the place to meet international standards, so that it can attract more tourists and activities, which bring more revenue to the place, adding that it will also create employment opportunities to help cut the high unemployment rates.

The chairperson of Parachuters Association of Botswana and also the coordinator of the event, Mr Essop Mokgwathi explained that they have been trying to bring the sport since 2005 when they started it in the country.

He said with the first event having taken place this year, they are hoping it will mark the beginning of many more things to come. Ends