30 Mar 2022

A representative of tour operators in Ngamiland, Mr Kenosi Mbwe has proposed that the constitution should support and address challenges faced by small entrepreneurs in the tourism industry. 

Presenting their submissions to the Presidential Commission of Inquiry into Review of the Constitution, he said supporting small businesses would promote citizen participation in the industry, which is currently dominated by foreigners. 

Currently, he said, operators were struggling to sustain their businesses because of inadequate support from the government. 

This, he said, gave foreigners an upper hand because they were well resourced and financially stable. 

He described tourism business as an expensive exercise, which needed a lot of capital and suggested that the government should develop sound policies whereby it could help small businesses to remain competitive. 

Mr Mbwe cited marketing as a major challenge and requested the government to consider assisting tour operators with marketing strategies so that they could penetrate the international market. 

He argued that in any business, a marketing strategy was necessary to build the business brand and attract new customers. 

He further stated that some tour operators had interest to participate in international expos such as Indaba but were economically challenged. 

He thus proposed that the government should at least pay accommodation for them. 

The Indaba expo provides a commercial platform for business people to leverage goods and services to the local and global markets. 

Mr Mbwe also decried some amendments that were made in the Wildlife Conservation and National Parks Act, saying the changes were made without consulting other stakeholders. 

The changes, he said negatively affected their businesses giving as an example the increase in park fees, which he said hit those operating mobile safaris harder as they depended much on the international market. 

Mr Mbwe pointed out that they used to pay P70 per person for entrance fee in parks/reserves and the fee had now been increased to P135. 

He argued the high entrance fee would chase away their clients who had already made some bookings and paid in advance but were stopped by the outbreak of COVID 19. 

As per the amendment, private visitors who are residents/SADC nationals are charged P205 per day while non-residents pay P270 per day. 

Guides are charged P1400 for a guide’s license. 

“Our tourism is a high cost, low volume undertaking and we cannot compete with other countries like Tanzania. Local tourists are failing and they cannot match the international clientele because they want to pay low prices. We request the government to come on board and give us attention so that we equally benefit from the industry just like hospitality businesses,” he added. 

He acknowledged the assistance from some financial institutions such as Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) but stated that they could not meet some of the requirements such as security. BOPA