12 Sep 2023

Government is developing a plan to lure more tourists into Botswana through a meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) strategy.

Minister of Environment and Tourism, Ms Philda Kereng said in an interview that the strategy aimed to increase the country's competitiveness and to diversify tourism products.

The minister, who is part of President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi’s delegation to The Bahamas, said the visit would afford them the opportunity to learn from the best. 

She said the visit came at the right time when they were on the verge of finalising the draft strategy. “It is important for us to be here while the strategy is being developed,” said Ms Kereng.

She said the strategy was to promote the country as a MICE destination to international markets, to identify and address infrastructural and skills gaps.

For her part, Botswana Tourism Organisation acting chief executive officer, Ms Keitumetse Setlang said the strategy would guide the country in developing the MICE sector.

She noted that the country's tourism had been dependent on wildlife for a long time, and that they were looking at different forms of tourism to diversify the product. 

“We should look at service provision, value chain beneficiation and who should benefit from the development of the sector” she said.

Ms Setlang said the draft strategy would be presented to cabinet for approval before being launched early next month.

Minister Kereng said the visit to The Bahamas was the right step in the right direction as the country was well-known for its tourism, adding that they would meet their counterparts to explore potential areas of cooperation.

She said the country had made commendable strides in tourism and had training institutions that prepared students for employment in hotels and the entrepreneurial sectors.

Ms Kereng said Botswana could learn a lot from the Bahamas, adding that some local cultural activities could also be of interest to the Caribbean countries. Ends