19 Jun 2022

There is need  to grow the travel and tourism  sector value chain through upstream and downstream beneficiation.

Speaking at the virtual Botswana Travel and Tourism Award ceremony in Gaborone on Saturday, Minister of Environment and Tourism Ms Philda Kereng said it was therefore in the interest of government to ensure that efforts to diversify the economy became successful.

“This will create a stable resilient economic base that will define a new destiny for our local businesses to grow and prosper,” said Ms Kereng.

Minister Kereng said the travel and tourism sector had developed investment promotion initiative, which enabled businesses to be meaningfully engaged and play critical roles in the supply and value chain.

She further added that government had been able to provide the necessary interventions for investments in the form of outreach programmes for constructive partnerships with the private sector.

Government, she said, was committed to promoting domestic and global investment, which provided the necessary business linkages with large enterprises thereby creating an interlinked and dynamic economy.

“Government is committed to providing the private sector with a platform and an enabling environment to leverage avenues exploiting untapped economic activities through appropriate new technologies and innovations,” said Ms Kereng.

The minister noted that one of the key drivers of economic diversification was the creation of a robust and sustainable private sector, adding that ‘it is our hope that our sector will grow and create employment opportunities and foster technological innovation.’

The awards were celebrated under the theme: Regenerating Botswana’ Tourism through Culture, Heritage and Creativity, and 15 categories were recognised among them; the Best Travel Company won by Africa Lora Travel, Best Air Charter won by Air Botswana and the Best in Eco-Tourism which went to Chobe Game Lodge.

Minister Kereng said the 15 categories were critical to enabling sustainable economic growth in travel and tourism sector. ENDS