13 Oct 2013

Tourism facility operators have been encouraged to improve their services. This was said by the Minister of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism, Mr Tshekedi Khama when officially opening Pelican Lodge and Camping in Nata on October 11.

The minister stressed that excellent service was crucial because Botswana was competing for tourists with neighbouring countries.

Minister Khama also explained that the 2013 World Economic Forum’s travel and tourism competitiveness report indicated that the country had dropped three places since the last edition of the index primarily because of low service standards in the treatment of tourists and underdeveloped ICT infrastructure.

As a small nation, he said Batswana needed to support local businesses and reduce the trend of going to other countries for recreational purposes.  “Tourism operators should know that Batswana are also tourists in their own country, hence good service standards should be a norm.”  

Minister Khama also highlighted that there had been, in recent years, a significant increase in private companies’ participation in promoting the nation’s socio-economic development into a competitive, winning and prosperous nation.

Thus, he commended the 42-room facility proprietors for their collective efforts. “Pelican Lodge saw it fit to participate in sustainable tourism development; development that whilst focusing on running a profitable establishment, also actively participates in the development of local people where they operate,” he said.

The lodge’s management was also commended for their corporate social investment as they have identified an underprivileged person for whom they will soon build a house, and have also adopted a local primary school.

Furthermore, the minister said his ministry appreciated tourism establishments that followed sustainable tourism development guidelines which also aimed at promoting the lives of Batswana.

Currently, he noted that the national museum was promoting the Makgadikgadi heritage trail, which included the area where the lodge was located.

One of the lodge directors, Ms Kebawetse Masima explained that part of the reason they chose Nata area for the Pelican Lodge and Camping was because there were many places of interest around the village where tourists could be taken for sight-seeing.

These, she explained, included Lekhubu Island, Nata Bird Sanctuary, Makgadikgadi Pans and Dzibanana water source which, she said, was always teeming with wildlife.

Ms Masima said the P30 million facility, which has 42 rooms, a conference facility and camp site, has employed 45 locals. She noted that business had been good as many people visited and used conference facilities since they opened their doors last year.

On service standards, Ms Masima maintained that their employees have been trained to treat both local and foreign tourists equally as they both contributed to the success of the lodge.  She also thanked BOCCIM for training their staff.

Meanwhile, she highlighted the need to love other people as well as exposure from travelling to different places as key in the success of the tourism industry.

“The research from one’s travels comes in handy when you want to start your own facility,” she said.
Ms Masima added that they would in future build staff houses within the lodge complex as they experienced a high staff turnover due to lack of proper accommodation in Nata.

“Some of our employees left us because they could not find accommodation which suited their needs,” she said. Ms Masima said they were also planning to put up more rooms and two more conference halls. Ends