UB, Monash collaborate in tourism

TUMELO SETSHOGO
Correspondent | Friday October 22, 2010 00:00

UB's Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Business, Dr Nkisang Moeti, said this at the commencement of UB's five-year business partnership with the Cresta Marakanelo Group at the President Hotel last week.

The Cresta Excellence Award was launched under the auspices of the partnership. The award comes with a trophy, cash and an offer of employment from the Cresta Marakanelo Group. Through it, two students from the institution will be recognised in the hospitality and tourism stream. Oteng Thokweng and Julia Mbaakanyi have become the first recipients of this prestigious award.

'I am happy to mention that we are in the process of promoting a strong link between the University of Botswana and Monash University and its Tourism Centre,' Moeti said, adding that the link would engage in research collaboration, particularly in the areas of pro-poor tourism, wildlife tourism and human and wildlife conflict, among others.

Collaborative research projects UB is currently engaged in includes local responses for global environmental change, developing sustainable rural and urban tourism management, and tourism satisfaction in Botswana.

Moeti said tourism and hospitality management had recently undergone major revision 'to address the changing needs of our stakeholders and match them with international standards'.

She called on the experts in the tourism and hospitality sector to actively participate in the development and review of the programme and in research seminars of the Faculty of Business.

UB's business partnerships and collaborations come at the right time after the Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO) has won the WTTC Tourism for Tomorrow 2010 Destination Stewardship Award.

A news release says the award was in recognition of   BTO's successful demonstration of sustainable tourism practices, including the protection of natural and cultural heritage, social and economic benefits to local people, and environmentally-friendly operations.