Over 2.4m Germans want to visit Botswana
Correspondent | Friday March 17, 2017 16:37
Goke was speaking at the opening press conference of the ITB Berlin last week in the German capital. ITB Berlin is the World’s leading travel show.
Botswana was the official Partner of the 2017 ITB Berlin. According Goke, the 2017 ITB Berlin brought 10,000 companies from 184 countries to showcase the global tourism industry’s latest products and trends.
Germany has a population of over 80 million and among the top tourists spenders in Botswana.
Botswana as a partner country was given a platform to host the opening ceremony to showcase the best of Botswana.
Botswana has been a regular exhibitor at the ITB Berlin since 1983 and was this year represented by 39 companies offering a wide range of experiences in Botswana. Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO) led a campaign called #ilovebotswana that included roadshows and mass advertising in Germany to coincide with the ITB Berlin.
President Ian Khama officiated at the opening ceremony and reiterated the call for tourists to visit Botswana as well as to support its conservation initiatives.
ITB Berlin gave Botswana a much-needed spotlight where Minister of Environment Wildlife, Conservation and Tourism, Tshekedi Khama presented at various platforms highlighting tourism and conservation issues faced by Botswana.
Tshekedi spoke about the dilemma of the elephant population and poaching, rhino relocation and community-based tourism ventures.