23 Feb 2025

Kazungula Bridge Marathon is an engine for economic growth, promoting sport tourism in Chobe District. 

The 2023 Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO) Impact and performance Survey revealed that hospitality and accommodation facilities experienced a 439 per cent increase in turnover during the Kazungula Bridge Marathon. 

Speaking on the sidelines of the marathon on Saturday Minister of Sport and Arts Mr Jacob Kelebeng stated that the marathon was a model of how sport could be used to promote tourism in that the event attracted global attention. 

He said multiple sectors of economy benefitted from the marathon as participants used public transport, lodges and hotels, food and entertainment services in Kasane and Kazungula periphery. 

Mr Kelebeng said that the race was monumental in that it served as qualifying event for international races. 

He noted that marathon enthusiasts from Botswana and abroad descended in Chobe on the marathon weekend to compete in the marathon then revel in the music festivals hence injecting money into the local economy. 

The minister indicated that with Kasane being at the quadpoint where borders of Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe come together, it was efficient for participants from these countries and beyond to travel to Chobe for Kazungula Bridge marathon. 

The Minister of Environment and Tourism Mr Wynter Mmolotsi said the marathon was a tool to diversify economy by promoting wellness for tourists who were enthusiasts of travelling abroad for fitness. 

He said during the marathon weekend service providers in Chobe benefited from opportunities that accrued from hosting the meet. 

Mr Mmolotsi stated that sport and fitness presented many opportunities to tap into as sporting spectacles across the globe had proven to be crowd pullers like FIFA World Cup, Olympics. 

MP for Chobe Mr Simasiku Mapulanga said the marathon was an economic spanner for the district as all tourism and hospitality facilities were fully booked on a marathon weekend, adding that there was spillage of economic activity everywhere especially for SMMEs in catering businesses, and transport. 

He said there was potential to be unlocked in other sectors such as culture in that Chobe was rich in cultural heritage that needed to be showcased on a broader platform like the marathon. ENDS