Okavango Wilderness Safaris surviving the wild
BG: What does the future look like for OWS under your chairmanship?
BINNS: COVID- 19 will not be with us forever and we have used the downtime forced on us by the pandemic, to look inwardly to understand our strengths and work to eliminate our weaknesses. This has been a productive process and, in spite of the pain inflicted by COVID, we are optimistic about the future. Our tourism product, being low density and mainly outdoors, is perfectly suited to travel in a post- COVID world.
We also know that there is significant pent- up demand for travel in our target markets and therefore we expect an influx of travelers as soon as an appreciable portion of the population has been vaccinated and the airline schedules have stabilised. When previous disruptions to the industry have occurred, such as the Global Financial Crisis and the 2010 Soccer World Cup, Botswana’s industry has been the first in the region to rebound. This is because our high- value, low volume model is the most resilient and the market for this model will be the first to travel as things return to normal.
BG: OWS is a major investor in the domestic tourism sector. What are some of the legislative frameworks that has to be changed to ensure the sector flourishes? BINNS: We are fortunate to have sound legislature in Botswana. Looking specifically at the pandemic situation, however, a key to get the tourism sector into full recovery will be the availability and up take of vaccines for those in the tourism sector. If the return to normalcy in the USA is anything to go by, having a vaccinated population appears to be the key. OWS is ready and prepared to support the Botswana Government and the Private sector to inoculate all those who work in tourism so that the industry can resume making such significant contributions to the economy.
BG: Government has made its intentions known to acquire part of the land within the famed Okavango Delta which OWS has operations in. What is your view on this move as Chairman of OWS?
BINNS: We have no insights as to exactly where this is intended to occur or what is intended, so it is premature for us to comment, but we will always be supportive of initiatives that are in the national interest and further support greater conservation of the pristine wilderness we are proud to have in Botswana.
BG: The tourism sub sector in the country is largely not diverse. What could be done to move faster in this area?
BINNS: Opening up of new concessions will go a long way to creating opportunities for new investors, thus encouraging diversity and enhancing the level of impact we are all able to continue to make in the environment and the communities around us.
BG: How important is citizen economic empowerment in the tourism sub sector? BINNS: Clearly, this is a critical matter. The question is how to achieve this in the present environment? Botswana already has a working model in the community concessions where the ownership of the resources vests in the people, whereas the business risk is borne by private sector entrepreneurs. It is a space we can all put our minds to as we strive to support growth of tourism, enhanced GDP and economic contribution by tourism, and support for citizen empowerment initiatives.