WTTC Highlights Botswana's Travel and Tourism Potential

Botswana's Travel & Tourism industry is expected to generate US$1,620 million of economic activity according to the latest Tourism Satellite Accounting (TSA) report produced by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and commissioned by the Government of Botswana and the Botswana Tourism Board.

Over the next ten years Botswana's travel and tourism industry is expected to achieve an annualized real growth of 5%, exceeding the world average at 4.3% and the Sub-Saharan African average at 4.5%. According to the forecasts detailed in the report, Travel and tourism already contributes over 10% of total employment and some 16% of non-mining GDP.

At the official launch of the report delivered to the Botswana Cabinet, WTTC President Jean-Claude Baumgarten cautioned, "Although this growth is positive and the country is one of the Africa's most exciting travel destinations, it remains relatively unknown and is heavily dependent on intraregional tourists. Indeed, as far as long-haul markets are concerned, it is probably Africa's best-kept secret."

"However these forecasts show that, with the right policy framework, Botswana has the potential not only to expand rapidly but also to significantly broaden its tourism product base, appealing to much a wider range of tourist tastes and budgets," he added.

Botswana's Minister of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism Honourable Onkokame Kitso Mokaila announced that travel and tourism will be made a priority for the country's economy, which can no longer depend on its mining industry, "This report comes at a crucial point for Botswana and will help the government to reach the highest level of potential that can be realised. Travel and tourism will contribute enormously to the country's economy and we are committed to running a conscious campaign to publicize the strategic role and benefits of tourism in order to stimulate a more positive perception to the wider public."

Baumgarten outlined a series of policy recommendations that the government should apply to its travel and tourism strategy. These recommendations include:

- Prioritise tourism, review tourism and re-examine the institutional structure
- Improve policy coordination and implementation
- Devote sufficient resources to tourism research and monitoring
- Improve air transport services for long-haul markets
- Promote tourism product diversification
- Encourage community-based initiatives
- Promote an explicit linkage to all stakeholders
- Improve land allocation for tourism purposes
- Continue conservation and environmental efforts to achieve sustainable tourism
- Invest in preparing Botswana's citizens for careers in tourism
- Act to ease water and energy constraints
- Support technological innovation in the tourism sector
- Ease travel restrictions wherever possible

See other recent news regarding: Travel News Asia, Hotels, Botswana, Tourism, Visitor Arrivals