BTO diversify tourism through events

Staff Writer | Wednesday May 17, 2017 10:54

Addressing the media recently, the Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism Tshekedi Khama said that the events would look to drive diversification of the tourism region to include areas not traditionally associated with tourism.

“These events would drive the diversification into new tourism such as sport and adventure and culture heritage. They would ensure BTO’s mandate of destination awareness for example through the international airing of World Strongest Man to over 470 million households in over 70 countries,” Khama said.

He further said that these events look to encourage locals to travel more in their own country, as well as participate in exciting activities, which in turn generate wealth for the local economy. In addition, he said that the economic impact is evident in Khawa alone noting that a comparison can be made between a normal weekend sales approximated at P2.1 million to P5.6 million over the weekend.

“The positive tourism effects are not only during the event weekend with a 42% of spectators interviewed during the event saying that they visit the area outside the event itself,” he said.

He also said that BTO partners with the community and looks to generate revenue to plough back into the local community to develop tourism-based products. During the Makgadikgadi epic in 2015 the Nata Conservation Trust received P70,300 towards development.

The Gaing-O Community Trust that manages Lekhubu received P67,000 in camping fee and gate takings and received a donation of P47,000 last year during Race for Rhinos.

Khama also noted that throughout these events, special care is taken towards consideration of the environment and the impact of such large influxes of spectators.

He said government and BTO team through environmental impact assessment  (EIA) look towards preservation before the event and clean up after the event to have a zero environmental impact.