26 Jul 2020

Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Tourism’s, Ms Phildah Kereng has called on key stakeholders in the tourism industry to join forces with government in reviving the industry.

She made the plea during an engagement meeting with Ngamiland leadership and tourism operators. The purpose of the meeting was to solicit ideas, ways and interventions which could help the ministry to develop a strategic framework to revive the industry post COVID 19.

The minister appreciated that tourism industry which was critical to growth of the country’s economy took a knock from COVID-19 pandemic.

The pandemic, she said resulted in loss of jobs, loss of income, closure of some businesses, and thus negatively impacting informal sector which thrived on the tourism industry.

The ministry alone, she said could not revive the industry if the sector drivers were not playing their part. Ms Kereng underscored the need to come up with strategies to diversify the industry and ways to promote domestic tourism.

Stakeholders, she said should utilise untapped opportunities in Maun citing promotion of cultural tourism, recreational areas, and organising tourism events, adding that the ministry was ready to support any tourism activity.

“We have a big role to play as stakeholders to revive the industry and stimulate the district economy. We are hopeful that operators could rise again and we are ready to work with you and give direction,” she added.

She urged stakeholders to come up with more products that would attract tourists to spend days in Maun; expanding the value chain in the process.

The minister said government had done a good job to control and contain COVID-19 even though they did not expect the international clientele who are the primary source to come to the country soon.

She pointed out that government also assisted with wage subsidy to support workers to meet their needs adding that currently, the ministry was working on a stimulus package to support and catalyze the tourism sector.

MsKereng told the gathering that the industry had been prioritised and funding would be availed to operators. Further, she shared that government had extended wage subsidy to operators by six months courtesy of Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA).

She appreciated support from global partners to augment government efforts. She stated that citizen empowerment was priority in the industry, adding that government aimed to assist locals participation in the sector.

The ministry, she said was ready to facilitate local empowerment, help with capacity building, funding and technical support to ensure the locals thrived in the industry.

She encouraged the locals to familiarise themselves with the recently launched Citizen Entrepreneur Development Agency guidelines saying the document was inspiring.

In response, Maun East area MP, Mr Goretetse Kekgonegile appreciated the minister’s visit and the political will to transform the tourism industry. He agreed that the industry needed to be revived through harnessing of all available opportunities in the district.

He also stressed the need for the ministry to decentralise considering the significance of the industry in the development and growth of the economy noting that such would increase accountability.

The district, he said deserved a position of a director level just like other ministries noting that decentralisation would improve the decision making pace unlike where  most decision were made at headquarters in Gaborone.

Mr Kekgonegile noted that tourism promotion and diversification was a welcome development adding that the industry focused much on wildlife related activities.

He appreciated government efforts to assist workers with wage subsidy, and urged officials to monitor the subsidy to ensure it benefited the intended people.

He reiterated that some operators abused the assistance while some cheated workers.ENDS