01 Aug 2024

Botswana, a country already doing well in the tourism sector, has the potential to further grow that segment of the economy through leveraging on the experience of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, one of the world’s major players in the field.

In an interview with BOPA after partaking in a game drive at the Mokolodi Nature Reserve on the outskirts of Gaborone on Wednesday, the  Governor General of The Bahamas, Ms Cynthia Pratt waxed lyrical about the spending nature of Botswana, and the potential to grow domestic tourism more.

“There are unique things about Botswana- the animals, landscape, culture; the things tourists gravitate toward. If we are able to package that together and work on the hospitality experience, we could get more people coming here. In The Bahamas we understand that tourism is about people to people relations, even the ordinary man should know how to treat tourists. The taxi driver could make that difference- if there is good hospitality, the tourist would return,”  Ms Pratt said.

Tourism is the mainstay of the Bahamian economy, chief employer and principal foreign currency earner, with an estimated US$2 billion spent annually by 4.5 million visitors representing about 40 per cent of the gross domestic product, rising higher if tourism related services and construction are factored in.

“It is important for us because it is our number one industry, but it took years to build, you teach people from school children level what it is to be ambassadors for their country. Similarly, it is important to give tourists the Botswana experience, and to work on keeping them here, having them market their experience to others out there and grow the tourist base,” Pratt said.

Over the past decade, Botswana has seen tourism rise to contribute over ten per cent of GDP, doubling its stake from the turn of the century, and  Ms  Pratt expressed the belief that the two countries could benefit from a solid partnership there and in other fields, building on the cooperation initiated by President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi.

“Botswana and The Bahamas have so much in common, starting with the people, we look alike, and the things we treasure are the same. President Masisi is the one who taught us a lot in the short time that he came for an official visit to The Bahamas (in September 2023) and we could realise that we have a base to work on. We have shared values, and while The Bahamas has experience in tourism, Botswana has expertise in agriculture and there are areas we could assist each other,” Dame Pratt revealed.

Also speaking to BOPA at the same venue, the Bahamian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Frederick Mitchell said his government was committed to ensuring the practical implementation of the ideal of cooperation with Botswana.

“I believe we need to develop people to people ties. In a year to 18 months’ time, I would love us to identify airlines to have special direct flight charter, for people from Botswana to come to The Bahamas, and our people coming here, to spend two weeks in the other country. We could lay out a special programme for people who are interested in trade, investment, tourism and education, give them time to plan on time, make it affordable. That is the next practical step and we will make a proposal to the Botswana government on how to execute that,” Mr Mitchell said. ENDS