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"The tour operators have no rates for Batswana. There are prices for Batswana it's just that they are not aware of them," he said. He said that prices on the tour packages usually seem a little pricey because they cater for international visitors who usually purchase packages in US dollars or pounds," he stated. Tema said that even though the packages might seem expensive to Batswana, they needed to look at the pricing of the whole package. "They should not compare the price of a package with the price of a hotel because a package is inclusive of everything - lodging, food and transport," he told Mmegi. Tema added that it might not be easy for Batswana to adopt the idea of vacations because they do not have that culture. He said that on days that are considered vacations and holidays, Batswana are usually at home with their families for different reasons. "On holidays people engage in things like wedding plans, funerals and other gatherings that are spared for holidays. They have no time for vacations," Tema noted. He disclosed that for Chobe and Kasane the numbers of domestic tourists going to that area were not so bad. "Even though the numbers are not that high it's better than other areas," he revealed. Tema said that Batswana need to be encouraged to get into the system of calling and enquiring from tour operators about different packages. Though Tema said Batswana do not tour their country as much as they should, young couples were striving to change that as they now visibly take vacations to tourism areas. Tema indicated that the Department of Tourism was not sleeping on the issue and were trying to look for ways to make Batswana aware that tourism is not meant to benefit foreigners only. "We are planning to come up with systematic ways to boost domestic tourism. It is on the top of our agenda," he said and added that they needed strategies to boost domestic tourism. Tema said that though domestic tourism needed boosting, outbound tourism also needed attention as that would also benefit the country. "Batswana also need to travel to other neighbouring countries like South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique because that would also boost the tourism industry," he said. He elaborated that when someone books a coach and buys a package and generally prepares for the whole trip they spend on the country. "Those preparations generate money for the country," he stated.
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