14 Mar 2022

An Israeli tourist has applauded Botswana for its kgotla system, which allows members of the public to make input towards policy formulation and developments.
The praise was done by one of the 126 Israeli tourists who arrived on a chartered Arkia flight during a press conference organized by Civil Aviation Authority Botswana (CAAB) and Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO) on March 9.
Ms Judith Karp, an 84 year-old former Israeli deputy attorney general and one of 126 tourists from her homeland said she had found the people a lot more interesting than wildlife, so much so that since arriving in Kasane on March 7, she had been meeting various people and had learnt about Botswana’s democracy, free education and medical services.
She said of the kgotla system: “Listening to the voices of the people at the lower ranks is unique and I am very excited to see that,” she said.
She was particularly amazed at seeing women tour guides, which she said was a peculiar way of empowering them.
“These women, are able to change a flat tyre on their own, this is amazing!
“As a woman I am very proud of these women and I hope more will be done to empower them,” she said. Ms Karp said that this was her first time in Africa and the little knowledge she had about Africa was mostly about problems in the continent.
While serving as deputy attorney general she was also a member of the UN’s committee on the rights of the child, which was where she learnt a lot about Africa’s problems. It was after reading Alexander McCall Smith’s book, The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency, that she developed interest to come to Botswana.
“It told a lot of beautiful stories about the lives of Batswana, their beliefs and community life,” she said. Ms Karpo was also full of praises for Another World, a tour company based in Israel, for opening an opportunity for her to visit Botswana.
Another tourist, Mr Benzion Horowit said his was also a first to Botswana.
 He greatly enjoyed his stay and would encourage other Israelis to utilise Another World’s direct flights to Botswana especially as they were exempt from Visa.
Another World CEO, Mr Omer Carmel said the company started bringing tourists in small groups to Botswana for the first time six years ago.
He said this time they brought a big group of 126 tourists who travelled to Chobe National Park and Okavango Delta. The company was eager to show the world that Botswana had capacity to take bigger groups. District Commissioner, Ms Sekgabo Makgosa said Chobe as a tourism destination was always elated to receive tourists from any part of world.
She said receiving tourists again after COVID-19 was an indication of the light at the end of the tunnel.
She noted that while there were known possible tourism attraction sites, those who visited the country should help identify more sites and advise how gaps in the industry could be closed. Hospitality and Tourism Association of Botswana Chairperson, Mr Joe Motse said the industry would do all to ensure the arrangement continued.
He said as HATAB they looked forward to receiving Israeli guests in different areas of Botswana.
Mr Motse noted the Israeli direct links to Botswana could also benefit Israel’s religious tourism as there were Batswana ready to tour places mentioned in the Bible.
CAAB air transport manager, Mr Monty Tlagae said having a large aircraft coming into the country provided trickle-down opportunities for small charter operators, fuel suppliers at the airport and traders in passenger halls.
For her part Botswana Tourism Organisations’s executive manager-marketing, Ms Keitumetse Setlang assured the tourists of Botswana’s commitment to ensure that the tourism product was left as pristine as it was.
She said Botswana had a lot to offer, as in addition to Chobe there was the Okavango Delta, Tuli, Kgalagadi and other beautiful places.
She assured tourists and those who facilitated their travel to Botswana of stakeholders’ support in ensuring they enjoyed the product in its pure form. ENDS