03 Dec 2019

Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism says there are no plans to open a Department of Tourism office in Kgalagadi North constituency during the current National Development Plan due to resource constraints.

Responding to a question on behalf of the tourism minister, Minister Karabo Gare said even though the ministry understood the need and importance of such an office to the area, they had taken advantage of the Trans Kgalagadi Highway, through Botswana Tourism Organisation, by opening up an information office in Kang.

He said although there was no guest lodge in Mabuasehube, there was already a concession for the construction of a private lodge, which was awarded through competitive bidding to an investor.

Mr Gare said the investor found the area overly expensive to develop and abandoned the project while the ministry would re-advertise the site in the near future.

The Member of Parliament for Kgalagadi North, Ms Talitha Monnakgotla had asked the minister if they have considered opening an office of the Department of Tourism in Kgalagadi North constituency looking at the fact that there was the Trans Kgalagadi Highway and Mabuasehube Game Reserve which could promote tourism in the area. 

The MP also wanted to know if the minister was aware that Mabuasehube Game Reserve did not have a guest lodge, and whether he would consider awarding a concession to a private company to construct a lodge within the park to accommodate all types of tourists. Ends