19 Jul 2016

In an endeavour to grow the tourism base and accelerate development of the tourism sector in Botswana, Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO) has come up with the Dams Tourism initiative.
Answering a question in Parliament on behalf of the Minister of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism, Mr Kitso Mokaila said the purpose of the initiative is to diversify the tourism product.
He said BTO has partnered with Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) and Selebi-Phikwe Economic Diversification Unit (SPEDU) to revive the initiative of unlocking the dams’ tourism, recreation and leisure opportunities at Letsibogo and Dikgatlhong dams.
Mr Mokaila said the partnership is two phased. The first phase is the preparation of tourism master plans for the dams, which will guide the overall management and tourism developments in the dam lease areas.  Minister Mokaila  said the second phase  is implementation of the tourism master plans, including infrastructure development, identification of investors and disposal of tourism sites.
He further said consultancy services for the preparation of Letsibogo and Dikgatlhong tourism master plans are at draft final stage and are expected to be completed before the end of 2016.
“The consultant engaged to assist with development of the respective Dams’ Tourism Master Plans are mandated (as a specific objective of the terms of reference) to identify neighbouring communities and advise on any potential benefits of involving the such communities in the operation and management of the dam, in line with the Community Based Natural Resources Management (CBNRM),” Mr Mokaila informed parliament.
He noted that identified tourism sites shall be disposed through the BTO Land Bank Process, in respect of which competitive bidding/open tender method is encouraged.
Member of Parliament for Mmadinare Mr Kefentse Mzwinila had asked the minister to state the strategic or long term goals of the development of tourist projects around the Letsibogo and Dikgatlhong dams.
He also asked the minister to state whether indigenous community based organisations cooperatives in the area would be given preference in the allocation of tourism plots and projects. ENDS