01 Nov 2022

Botswana tourism policies should promote domestic tourism, Okavango Research Institute (ORI) director Professor Joseph Mbaiwa has said.

Addressing a business networking session in Maun on Monday, Professor Mbaiwa said it was imperative to cater for Batswana to make it easier for them to access prime tourism destinations.

He highlighted that most of the prime tourism destinations especially in the Okavango Delta were exorbitantly priced in US dollars or Euros hence sidelining Batswana.

This, he said, was due to the fact that Okavango Delta was marketed as an international tourist destination.

He stated that many tourists originated from high income countries with a stronger currencies, which made lodges and camps target them instead of an ordinary Motswana.

Professor Mbaiwa said it was high time the tourism and hospitality industry diversified products to suit both locals and foreigners.

He said this could only be achieved if government stepped in to craft policies and strategies that favoured citizens to make prime areas affordable to them.

Professor Mbaiwa emphasised that in doing that government would still adhere to the low volume tourism strategy by only taking a few people at a go into the pristine destinations.

He stated that COVID-19 had had a negative impact on many industries especially tourism with hospitality businesses affected by the movement restrictions.

He said this was an opportunity for Botswana to capitalise on domestic tourism as many facilities had lowered their rates to cater for locals, adding that it was unfair that when things returned to normal prices escalated leaving Batswana out.

‘’I believe it is high time government revisited tourism policies to prioritise domestic tourism as well because many Batswana want to visit the Okavango Delta but it is very expensive for them,” he said.

For his part, Maun Business Trading chairperson Mr Bernard Wellio stated that networking was key in businesses for sharing of important lessons and benchmarking.

He highlighted that Maun being a good business base for Botswana’s economy it offered opportunities in tourism, motor vehicle, culture and retail businesses.

Mr Wellio stated that there was a potential in SMMEs to boom in Maun due to population growth. However he said some SMMEs needed subsidy after suffering from COVID-19 impact.

He further said there was a need for Maun businesses to reach out to people especially communities where their businesses operated so that people could enjoy the benefits of opening their doors to investors.

The chairperson said Maun indigenous people should enjoy the benefits of their village being a tourism hub, adding that tourists could spend a few days in Maun buying local crafts, foods, enjoying music and culture before transiting to the Okavango Delta. Ends