07 Dec 2021

The Omicron variant is already negatively impacting the tourism industry, Specially Elected Member of Parliament and Minister of Environment, National Resources Conservation and Tourism, Ms Philda Kereng has said.

 Contributing to the State-of-the-Nation Address debate recently Ms Kereng said  several cancellations had already been made.

“According to the recent HATAB report, from the 9 451 bookings made the industry has experienced cancellation on 2 512 air charter services, 3 168 campsites and lodges services, 953 hotel bookings as well as 508 tour operations,” she said.

The minister reaffirmed government’s commitment  to revitalising and diversification of  the tourism sector.

She said the formulation and implementation of the tourism policy was testament to government’s commitment to revive the sector.

Ms Kereng said government had been promoting tourism through virtual platforms and engagements, adding that it had also been instrumental in stimulating the recovery of the tourism sector at both local and international levels.

She said government had revised the tourism policy with the objective to facilitate product diversification, promote domestic tourism, increase citizen and local community participation in the development of the sector.

 In order to increase meaningful citizen participation in the growth and development of the tourism industry, Ms Kereng said government had taken the decision to reserve some concessions in the Okavango Delta and camp site operations in various national parks and game reserves to be allocated to 100 per cent citizen owned companies, consortia and joint-venture partnerships

With safari tourism taking a dip during the COVID-19 pandemic, minister Kereng highlighted   government had formulated agro-tourism guidelines with the intent to promote and encourage Batswana to venture into the sector.

She added that agro-tourism could be the backbone of socio-economic development if fully utilised.

She also said her ministry was committed to creating an enabling environment for the success of agro-tourism projects, adding that government had prioritised agro-tourism to revive the tourism industry.

As a way to further promote the tourism sector, Ms Kereng stated that the ministry was hopeful to lure the Bollywood film industry to film some of the movie scenes at Botswana’s tourism sites.

With regard to waste management and harmful gas emissions, Ms Kereng said government had formulated the integrated waste management policy geared towards creating a platform for integrated sustainable waste management through adequate planning and resourcing.

She said the policy also served to transform current waste management practices by integrating socio-economic, political, technical, and institutional framework necessary for public health, job creation and economic emancipation of Batswana through treating waste as well.

“Treating waste as valuable economic resource will not only lead to improving environmental aesthetic, reducing public health and environmental risks, but will also have significant economic benefits as it will provide opportunities for waste-based enterprises that will improve the livelihoods of local communities,” she said.

She also advocated for the use of bio–gas to reduce gas emissions, which could have an impact on climate change.

Minister Kereng stated that human wildlife conflict cases had also decreased due to construction of buffer fences in places such as Mathathane. She added that compensation guidelines were being reviewed by relevant stakeholders. ENDS