07 Mar 2016

The Director of  Bahurutshe Cultral Lodge, Ms Mmankhudu Glickman has said that the Government of Botswana has pronounced tourism as a sector with greatest potential to grow the economy.

“This pronouncement obliges the Department of Tourism to be in the forefront in the development of sustainable tourism,” she said. 

Ms Glickman said this at the 3rd annual department of tourism award ceremony, which was aimed at recognising and celebrating achievement in serving customers,  held at Maharaja Conference Centre.

She commended awardees for their hardwork, excellent service delivery and continued effort in fulfilling the mandate of Department of Tourism.

“Indeed this shows that most of you are performers in different and special ways. To those who did not receive awards, this does not mean your effort and contribution towards the Departmental performance is not recognised. Keep working harder,” she remarked.

She said the department has achieved a lot through some of individuals, who have qualified to be ambassaders of service delivery in the tourism sector.

“You have shown that through your continued effort, sacrifice, and dedication, you are able to take the department to greater heights,” she said.

Ms Glickman expressed that the tourism’’s mandate was to ensure tourism sectors thrive sustainably, adding that it meant bringing all other sectors of the economy to some common understanding of what tourism is about.

She lamented that there was need to have strong partnerships with the private sector and civil societies, Non Governmental Organisations and the public at large to be able to fully execute their immense task.

“I wish to recognise with appreciation that as a lead organisation in the tourism sector, you have started the process of making tourism a key engine of growth through the number of Tourism Pits which you arranged in the recent past which made us one body thus enabling us to all work towards a common goal,” she said.

She affirmed that she stood as a proud operator who was serviced by Department of Tourism and continues to serve with excellence.

“I can testify that I have grown from a bed and breakfast guesthouse to a cultural village. You held me by my right hand and helped me to walk through every step of development to where I am today now my establishment is known locally, regionally and internationally because of your support,” she remarked.

On her part, the Director of Department of Tourism, Ms Gloria Moselesele, said the award ceremony was meant to compliment the Ministry’s awards as not everyone could make it to a higher level.

She said it was crucial to recognise the hard work, commitment, dedication of the workers, adding that this time around the award ceremony was different as workers were given gifts such as cellphones, toasters, which they could use at home, unlike the usual award of being given trophies. Ends