02 Oct 2013

Sustainable water management will contribute significantly towards attaining sustainable tourism development, Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism Deputy permanent secretary, Ms Rapelang Mojaphoko, has said.

Speaking at the World Tourism Day commemoration in Gaborone on September 27, Ms Mojaphoko said water was one of tourism’s most precious resources thus vital that all protected its resources and employ effective conservation practices that will enable everyone to leave a legacy behind.

She noted that each year, millions of people travelled around the world to enjoy water destinations both inland and in coastal areas.

Thus, she urged all involved in the tourism sector to join the Global Tourism Day campaign and continue to devise innovative solutions to ensure that tourism contributed to the sustainable access to water resources worldwide.

“Unless we do so, the quality and quantity of available freshwater will continue to drain, threatening the delicate ecosystem enjoyed by all, tourism included,” she said. Ms Mojaphoko added that it was also essential for the industry to educate the travelling public on the importance of conserving water.

The crisis at hand, she said, required self-sacrifice and concerted efforts from all players in order for it to be effectively addressed.

For her part, Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO) chief executive officer, Ms Myra Sekgororoane said tourism will be of real benefit if it managed natural resources such as water. Ms Sekgororoane said the commemoration of tourism day was important as it afforded all the opportunity to highlight the important role tourism plays in national economies.

She said this year’s world tourism day highlighted the responsibility of the tourism industry to safeguard and intelligently manage water.

The day was commemorated under the theme ‘Tourism and Water, Protecting our common future.’ The theme is in line with the United Nations General Assembly’s declaration of 2013 which is the United Nations International Year of Water Cooperation. ENDS