04 Jun 2019

Meetings, Incentives, Congresses, Exhibitions (MICE) can make Botswana a leading tourism destination, an African diamond capital and contribute to sustainable tourism development, African Tourism Partners, Chief Executive Officer Mr Kwakye Dankor has said.

Speaking during the MICE symposium in Gaborone on June 3, Mr Dankor said worldwide practice showed that every fourth individual out of tens of millions people goes abroad on a business trip once in a while

“International practice in Meetings, Incentives, Congresses, Exhibitions (MICE) tourism development and its potential benefits for Botswana is not only desirable, but also needful,” said.

He said the growth of such segment had made the development of MICE tourism relevant.

He noted that there were also international congresses and conventions, association conferences and exhibitions held annually, saying if the MICE strategy for

Botswana was strengthened revenue could be earned and unemployment would be solved.

Mr Dankor pointed out that there was lack of appreciation and understanding for the tourism industry saying other countries especially the Asian and European countries had made the tourism industry a priority hence they received more arrivals of tourists.

He highlighted that travel and tourism industry was worth some US$7 trillion and MICE industry was estimated to worth US$650 billion. He however stated that Africa accounts for 2 per cent of that figure which was very insignificant.

He stated that the new trends in tourists’ demands created possibilities for many countries to be competitive on international market, adding that business travel managers expected business travel to increase in the coming years.

He therefore said there had to be order in the tourism industry such as accommodation; catering, guidance and transportation, leisure and recreation or entertainment.

He cited that business and MICE related events that often attract more leisure travelers could be of FIFA world cup, the Olympics, world economic forum, super Bowl to mention a few.

He called for prioritisation of tourism in African countries to take advantage of the untapped market in Africa.

He further called for Botswana to unlock the potential of business and MICE tourism.

Mr Dankor further said to mainstream the MICE industry in Botswana there was need to strengthen destination management organisation model, find the niche and formulate business tourism and MICE strategy. ENDS