03 Dec 2023

Cultural heritage is a vital element, which needs to be infused into travel and tourism packages, as cultural tourism plays a critical role in setting Botswana apart from the rest of the world.

Botswana food, song, dance and fashion deserved to take centre stage on the travel operator’s packages to allow tourists to explore beautiful Botswana.

Minister of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture, Tumiso Rakgare said this when giving a keynote address at the just ended Botswana Travel and Tourism Expo (BTTE) cultural night in Kasane on Saturday.

 “Our culture is one of the main reasons tourism booms in Botswana because we serve fresh and organic cuisine and our song and dance have a beautiful rhythm, which always leaves visitors in awe,” he said.

Rakgare stated that local tourism operators and international buyers immersed in the excursions over the past week going on a boat cruise, visiting the Kazungula Bridge and game drives in the Chobe National Park.

This, he said, expanded the horizon for BTTE so that the delegates were able to appreciate and understand the importance of incorporating all aspects of tourism into a travel basket.

He highlighted that government, together with Botswana Tourism Organisation worked hard to uncover more cultural stories and destinations and package them in a way that would attract visitors.

The Travel Agents Association of Botswana chairperson Abel Monnakgotla stated that the expo had accorded them a platform to share ideas and build partnerships.

He said Kasane was the capital of tourism as espoused in the Meetings, Incentives Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) strategy, hence thanked the people of Kasane for hosting a successful expo.

He highlighted that the success of the Expo would be reflected by the growth of the tourism industry and the connections made.

Monnakgotla said it was imperative to package and sell Botswana tourism products in an appealing manner that would attract the world to visit Botswana.

Chobe District Council chairperson Chimney Mululwani thanked BTO for choosing Kasane as the hosts of the BTTE for many years, noting that this stimulated the economy of the district.

He concurred that delegates should take advantage of the connections made during the expo to build their businesses. Ends