05 Oct 2015

Motor Vehicle Accident Fund, chief executive officer, Cross Kgosidiile, has applauded the organising committee of Inalegolo horse racing derby for a resonant initiative that has potential to improve sports tourism in Kgalagadi.

Officially opening the horse racing event  rtecently, Kgosidiile said the tourism industry was critical in helping to diversify Botswana’s economy from traditional sources such as diamonds, beef as well as employment creation.

He said the country had insufficient tourist attraction areas hence events such as Inalegolo horse racing   provided communities with income generating tourism activities that could sustain residents.

MVA Fund, as the main sponsors for the past seven years, saw it fitting to assist in increasing the number of tourism activities in order for citizens and tourists to have a wider pool for tourism attractions to embrace.

Kgosidiile  said tourism swas one of the biggest and fastest growing industries globally and its benefits and the challenges affected the economic, socio-cultural, environmental and educational resources of nations.

The positive effects of tourism on a country’s economy, he said, included the growth and development of various industries directly linked with a healthy tourism industry, such as transportation, accommodation, wildlife, arts and entertainment.

He added that tourism also brought about the creation of new jobs and revenue generated from foreign exchange, investments and payments of goods and services provided.

As a fund, Kgosidiile said, MVA was proud to be contributing to the economic diversification drive advocated for by government and highlighted that overreliance on minerals is not good for this country hence  sponsoring the horse racing is therefore one of the many ways that MVA Fund is answering to economic diversification’s call
“Our partnership with the Inalegolo community has indeed stood the test of time, owing to our commitment towards achieving the objectives of this event, it has now grown by leaps and bounds as it now attracts spectators from all walks of Kgalagadi,” he said.

To make the Inalegolo horse racing event meaning, he encourage other stakeholders’ concerned to contribute towards its sustainability.

He said the participation and contribution of the Ministry of Youth Sport and Culture to this year’s event marks yet another milestone in the growth of this event.

Meanwhile the chairperson of the organizing committee, Kealeboga Thukwi showed gratitude towards the improvement of the event this year.

He highlighted that the event was initially formed to create awareness on the various ways horses can be utilized to uplift human livelihood amongst the participating communities of Inalegolo, Kokotsha, Phuduhudu, Morwamosu and the surrounding settlements.

He however indicated that it is pleasing to note that the local communities have found economical means to benefit from the event. Thukwi stated that there are hopeful to fully commercialize the event in the near future.
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