Francistown can be transit tourism hub � Lesolle
Lindiwe Mozola | Monday September 14, 2015 15:26
This was said by the executive director of Botswana Accountancy College (BAC), Michael Lesolle at a business seminar for the official opening of the Francistown School of Business and Leisure campuson Thursday.
Lesolle said that Francistown is a gateway to countries like Zambia, Zimbabwe, Democratic Republic of Congo and Namibia, which could attract investors and diversify the economy.
In addition, Lesolle said a good proportion of travellers who relish the joy of the road experience pass through Francistown. “We have therefore made a conscious decision to anchor our hospitality and tourism offering in Francistown in human capital development and skills capacity building for this industry,” said Lesolle.
The director noted that tourism and hospitality are paramount in delivering economic growth for the country. He said that there are immense opportunities existing for the development of the sector notwithstanding untapped ones in the mining industry.
He added that the tourism sector fuels a variety of activities for entrepreneurship.
“However, what is often understated or even sub-optimised if not totally overlooked, is the immense opportunity spectrum through engagement with the local communities and through pro-poor tourism, thereby lifting the communities affected out of the poverty trap.
“This will not just happen by itself. It takes people with the right skills and competencies, people who have the talent to convert what the community have to offer in their unique ways in to hard currency tourism linked products,” said Lesolle.The mayor of Francistown, Sylvia Muzila appreciated BAC’s new development.
She said that the School of Business and Leisure would have a good impact in the city’s vision of 2022 that seeks to turn Francistown into an investment hub of choice.
Muzila indicated that during this time that the country is faced with high unemployment rates, BAC School of Business and Leisure would produce graduates that are able to create employment opportunities for themselves and others. “BAC ought to be applauded for the strides they have made through their School of Business and Leisure. Their efforts to offer young people a career path in this sector that is rewarding is highly commendable,” said Muzila.