Cresta rebound with
With international travellers trickling back into the country’s tourism heartland in the northwest, players in the industry are positioning themselves for a return to high volumes. Cresta Marakanelo, the country’s largest hotel chain, has finished sprucing up its flagship leisure property, the Cresta Mowana Hotel in Kasane. Staff Writer, MBONGENI MGUNI was there recently
No matter how hard they tried, tourism players in Kasane, from the bed and breakfasts, to the fourstar luxury hotels lining the banks of the Chobe River, were forced at one point or another to abandon their properties this year.
Tourism was not classified as an essential service and while certain tradesmen could still attend to care and maintenance here and there, at some point all the facilities, the glory of Kasane, had to shut down.
Months of uncertainty passed, many companies laid off workers, or cut their salaries. Companies hunkered down from the financial storm, restraining their spending, holding banks at bay and reaching out to government assistance programmes.
Today, workers tell of returning to shake off nests built by baboons on the thatched roofs of chalets where previously tourists paid top dollar to soak in Africa.
In fact, during the quiet months, the wildlife began to take over, re-establishing its dominance over areas usually trodden by human beings. Helped by the healthy rains from earlier this year, the bush also grew thicker and closer, as though attempting to once again take back what tourism has carved out.
The result is that the wildlife is generally more plentiful, the scenery more breathtaking and closer, as Kasane experiences the festive rush of mostly citizen and resident visitors.
Kasane is slowly returning to life, supported by the efforts of Batswana who have faithfully been flocking to the various hotels, lodges and facilities since the lockdowns stopped and interzonal traffic eased.
As the industry took cover from the coronavirus (COVID-19) and focussed on survival, Cresta Marakanelo, the country’s largest leisure and business hotel chain, was making plans for the resumption of activity in the tourism and hospitality sector.
As soon as it was able, the group restarted a P3.5 million