05 Mar 2014

Hukuntsi Sub-district's assistant council secretary, Mr Bathusi Reetsang has applauded efforts made by the Western Kgalagadi Cultural Association to establish a cultural village along the Trans-Kalahari Highway.

Speaking in an interview during the arts and crafts market day in Kang, Regoweng indicated that he was hopeful that the cultural village which was proposed to be built in Phuduhudu will upon its completion be a cultural product that will increase tourism flow to the Western Kgalagadi Conservation Corridor.

He said Kgalagadi was an untapped tourism destination with great tourism opportunities that ranged from game drives and land scape viewing.

He therefore, encouraged the local communities along the Trans-Kgalagadi corridor to identify possible eco-tourism projects that can sustain their livelihoods on daily basis.

He said that Bakgalagadi and Basarwa were blessed to reside in a unique geological location in Botswana that is rich in natural resources and tourism attractions with different areas possessing different tourism opportunity.

He noted that Basarwa have always had a culture that is intertwined with their environment and dependent on natural resources therefore a lot of resources should be geared towards development of their communities so as to allow them enjoy benefits from natural resources while at the same time preserving their heritage and culture.

Establishment of cultural villages he said is important in preserving and minimizing the negative effects of conventional tourism on the environment and enhancing the cultural integrity of local people by empowering them with necessary survival skills that can uplift them from poverty.

The cultural villages he said will include among other things, self-catering chalets, craft shop, historians and tour guides.

Most importantly, Mr Regoweng said the cultural village will occasional host cultural exchange festival that will showcase the local cultural actives.

He further encouraged the local community to preserve and document for future reference. Cultural documentation he said enables people to physically preserve a cultural object, and more importantly enables communities to understand and preserve their history. ENDS