27 May 2021

Tented camps and lodges in the Okavango Delta are reported to be experiencing low occupancies compared to other categories such as hotels.

When updating councillors about the current status of tourism and hospitality during the COVID-19 pandemic, Botswana Tourism Organization (BTO) tourism development manager, Mr Thatayaone Mmapatsi said tented camps and lodges occupancies ranged between 20 to 25 per cent while hotels occupancies were between 20 to 60 per cent.

He pointed out that the total number of rooms in the North West region was 1 675 while the total number of beds stood at 3 337.

The numbers, he said included all categories that were graded being hotels, guest houses, Bed & Breakfast, Self-catering, lodges and tented camps.

The guest houses occupancies were reported to be between 25 to 30 per cent while Bed & Breakfast occupancies were between 10 to 60 per cent.

Mr Mmapatsi explained that the facilities benefited from tourists arrivals from neighbouring countries such as South Africa as well as Batswana and other residents who travelled during holidays.

He noted that it was a pity that the overall tourism business environment was experiencing a subsequent downfall due to the pandemic adding that the industry had experienced cancellations of existing bookings due to restrictions on travel bans from countries considered high risks while airlines were grounded.

Some facilities, he said experienced travel postponement as people had feared to travel. 

However, Mr Mmapatsi informed the house that BTO continued to promote destination education through the Travel Guide by educating Batswana about the destination and what to do in every region by lobbying local operators to revise rates to accommodate locals.

He also stated that they used a campaign; Rediscover Botswana platform to attract tourists.

The house learnt that BTO had also refocused its approach to promote travel to Botswana through virtual platforms.

Mr Mmapatsi cited the 2020 Botswana Travel and Tourism Expo (BTTE), which was virtual and gave local SMMEs opportunity to showcase their product to the international market.

The house was also appraised on the hunting quota allocated to community hunting concessions of which he said hunting commenced on April 6 and will end on September 21. 

Some of the trusts which managed to bid include NG3 Qangwa Community Trust, which he said the first bidder offered P3.17 million but had not paid.  The trust, he said had been advised to go with the second bidder at P1.9 million, adding that the community was still discussing the issue

Concession NG4, Cgae-Cgae Tlhabololo Community Trust was reported to have received P2.5 million while NG41, Mababe Zokotsama Community Development Trust got P6.25 million. 

However, Mr Mmapatsi noted that P5.3 million had been paid by the safari operator to the trust account while the remaining P1.6 million would be paid in four instalments as per the trust and safari operator agreement.

Since hunting season ends in September, he said Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) had advised the trust to re-look the installment payments to avoid arrears.

He appealed to political leaders to mobilise the communities to work jointly with TAC in order to benefit more from the hunting quotas.

He expressed concern that at times communities become impatient and implement their own decisions disregarding advice from TAC.. ENDS