SPEDU to roll out tourism projects
Ivy Matlho | Friday February 5, 2016 14:20
Speaking at a budget review seminar held here on Tuesday, Mokubung said SPEDU is impressed that the proposed budget has confirmed the amount to be used in infrastructure and the economic diversification drive.
Although Mokubung did not state how much money they have been allocated, the 2016/2017 budget estimates show that SPEDU has been allocated P31 million in subventions and grants.
He was pleased that infrastructure has also been allocated money hence they will use the opportunity to prioritise building of tourism facilities.
“Infrastructure is required to invest in tourism. Since the budget has confirmed the amount to be used in infrastructure, SPEDU will invest in building sites for tourism attraction,” he said.
Presenting the 2016/2017 budget on Monday, finance minister Kenneth Matambo said the Ministry of Trade and Industry has been allocated P908.53 million to cover subventions for its parastatals, especially SPEDU and its transformation into a company limited by guarantee.
Matambo said the SPEDU region has a huge potential for tourism since there are dams surrounding the area.
“Dam tourism can attract many tourists, we are hopeful we are going to create enough facilities to attract more people,” he said.
He is happy the Finance Minister also announced the government will create enabling environment for tourism businesses.
“We are hopeful we are going to use the money to create enough facilities that will attract tourists to SPEDU area hence boosting our economy,” he said.
He said there are also going to allocate land that is near dams to be used in projects that would attract tourists.
“We are going to allocate land near dams for tourists attraction projects. The feasibility study is ongoing and once completed, the tenders will be advertised,” he said.
Mokubung also said they will also consider building shopping malls in the town as another way of attracting people to the SPEDU region.
He added that one of the reasons people decide to go to other areas is because of lack of shopping malls in the region.
“We do not have shopping malls here, but the plan is to create facilities that will attract people to spend their money in SPEDU area,” he said.
He also said there are number of projects that SPEDU intends to carry out in order to stimulate the economy.
“There are number of projects that we are planning to carry out to stimulate our economy,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mokubung said SPEDU has managed to refurbish Selebi-Phikwe airport hence the need for it to be useful.
He said SPEDU is in negotiations with Air Botswana so that the airport is utilised.
He said the refurbishment of the airport is one of the projects that were in agenda of the transformation of the town.
He also stated that farms along Motloutse River would also be electrified as the government has already given them P12 million to carry out the project.