Govt prioritises digital tourism
Following Covid- 19 loses Community based conservation key to tourism protection
The government has identified digital tourism as one way to attract foreign direct investment in continued efforts to retain and attract business in the recovering tourism sector.
“We want to sell Botswana across borders through digital technology, which is a welcome way of taking the country to the world, and showcasing the diverse beauty, flora and fauna to the world,” declared Minister of Environment, Natural Resources, Conservation and Tourism, Philda Kereng at the launch of Botswana Tourism Month.
She said that having faced challenges in luring new business following the Covid- 19 travel restrictions and the subsequent dwindling of the number of tourists amidst continuing Covid- 19 fears, digital tourism has been identified as one way to attract foreign direct investment.
“We want the whole world to see that Botswana has tourism attraction sites that need to be explored and well- known globally. It is for this reason that we found it fit to utilise digital platforms amidst the Covid- 19 pandemic.”
Botswana Tourism Organisation ( BTO) has for example, been working very closely with Miss Botswana 2021/ 2022 Pal e sa Molefe, who has acquired a large following ahead of the Miss World finale in March.
Kereng further indicated that as the tourism industry slowly opens up again, they have managed to vaccinate a high number of people who work in the sector.
Tourism contributes 13.1 percent of the country’s national GDP. It is a form of economic diversification and a source of employment for many Batswana, as well as a consistent source of revenue.
Kereng reiterated the need to continue to protect Botswana’s pristine tourist sites, emphasising that it is the natural landscapes and flora and fauna, which attract tourists.
The need to prioritise conservation is what spurred Okavango Wilderness, in collaboration with the American Embassy, to spearhead an annual camp for school learners, particularly girls, dubbed, ‘ Conservation Science Camp for girls in rural areas, which is aimed at equipping participants with skills in environment conservation.
Programme director, Moalosi Lebekwe of Okavango Wilderness said it is important to prioritise conservation of the Okavango Delta biodiversity, as one of the biggest tourist attractions across the world.
Lebekwe said that through the community based conservation programmes, they would capacitate and empower young people to develop interest in environmental subjects and in the protection of community based natural resources.