15 Jan 2014

Letlhakane VDC has been advised to venture into tourism related projects as the sector has potential to grow and help diversify the economy.

Located in Boteti where mining activity is at its peak and along the tourists route to the Makgadikgadi pans and other sight-seeing destinations in the northern part of the country with abundance of flora and fauna, Letlhakane has the potential to house prospective tourism ventures.

Lands and housing minister who is also MP for the area, Mr Lebonaamang Mokalake said when addressing a kgotla meeting in Letlhakane on January 14.

Mr Mokalake was responding to a report by Village Development Commiittee (VDC) deputy chairperson, Ms Goganamang Galeragwe who had indicated that the committee had identified pieces of land within the village to apply for and utilise to develop tourism related projects.

Ms Galeragwe said as a committee mandated to spearhead the village development they had seen it fit to seek for alternative means of generating income. She noted that currently the committee is struggling to make ends meet as the little amount generated through rentals is not enough to finance anticipated community projects.

The legislator urged the VDC to follow the idea of venturing into tourism projects as the move would help generate more income and even diversify the village economy. Mr Mokalake said a recent report released by CNN Travel has ranked Botswana among the best in terms of tourism.

He said tourists across the globe still prefer Botswana as their destination of choice where they fully enjoy undisturbed nature full of wildlife. Our accommodation facilities are also ranked as among the best in the world, he said.

Mr Mokalake also said sport tourism is one sector currently experiencing growth, citing Kalahari 1000 desert race as one example of tourism activity. He said as magnitude of people visit the country to enjoy their favourites; the tourism industry gets a boost indirectly.

He said Khawa Dune Challenge is one of the growing examples of sport tourism. ENDS