Developing heritage sites for tourism

ABEL ABEDNICO MABUSE
Correspondent | Friday August 24, 2012 00:00

In today's edition, I wish to offer insight into modern challenges affecting heritage development in Botswana.

In most of the papers I have written on heritage site development, I have conscientiously argued that even though cultural tourism provides an alternative way of diversifying Botswana's tourism industry, there is still a lot of room to cover. As an example, involvement of the private sector, the public, the media and individuals in cultural and natural heritage development remains an unmet target. The Botswana National Museum has however steadfastly made significant efforts to develop Botswana's heritage sites for public appreciation, income generation and conservation in the last decade. Research conducted in the last 40 years has helped elevated the significance of some of our prime heritage sites. This has availed information instrumental in marketing some of these heritage sites for tourism. By the year 2008, only 12 heritage sites around the country were officially open to the public for tourism purposes. These included our only World Heritage Site of Tsodilo Hills, the outstanding National Monuments of Gcwihaba Caves, Domboshaba Ruins, Lekhubu Island, Moremi Gorge, Lepokole Hills, Majojo Ruins, Matsieng, Three Dikgosi, Livingstone Memorial, Manyana Paintings and Mogonye Gorges. At all these sites visitors were guaranteed professionally trained guides, camping facilities, and signage and information packages on these outstanding heritage sites.

When the effects of global economic recession hit our markets sometimes in 2008, heritage development was considered one of the important ways through which we could diversify Botswana's economy.The idea of developing heritage sites became a challenge to most heritage professionals in the country due to a number of reasons: First of all, there were too many sites that were worth developing and opening up for tourism purposes.

The sudden urgency to develop these sites presented challenges associated with resources and level of preparedness by professional s engaged in heritage development.  As a way of circumnavigating these challenges, the Botswana National Museum developed and implemented a range of effective strategies aimed at developing cultural and natural heritage sites for tourism purposes. Some of these include the Adopt a Monument Strategy launched in mid 2008 as a means of encouraging the private sector and individuals to have a stake in sustainable development and management of Botswana's heritage sites. It was not by accident therefore that when His Excellency Seretse Khama Ian Khama ascended to the presidency office on 1st April, 2008, the role of heritage sites in development of cultural identity of Batswana was also emphasised. Immediately after that, the Botswana National Museum was mandated to undertake sustainable development and management of 100 heritage sites across the country for tourism.

Before the introduction of the 100 Monument Project, the Botswana National Museum had already devised a strategy aimed at developing 20 heritage sites with outstanding tourism potential for educational and ecotourism purposes during the National Development Plan X. Although this plan was later shelved due to lack of funding, it stood out as a proactive means of enhancing management of heritage sites and indeed the ongoing process of decentralizing heritage services throughout the country. The anticipated results of this project included among others, provision of basic facilities such as site museums, ablution blocks, temporary offices, employment of staff as well as the provision of staff accommodation at some of these heritage sites. Mamuno Rock Engravings, Kasane Water Spring, Domboshaba Ruins, Dimawe Battlefield, Modipe, Gcwihaba Caves, Mothudi Ruins, Kolobeng, Old Palapye and Lepokole were to serve as regional centres. Basic facilities such as ablution blocks, offices and possibly exhibition rooms were to be developed near Chapmans Baobab, Pelotshetlha Lithops, Baratani Hill, Mogonye Gorge, Ngxhaishini Pan near Gweta, Majojo Ruins, Moremi, and Magagarape near Molepolole, Manyana Rock Paintings and at Matsieng Rock Engravings. Although this state of the art project has yet to take place, a lot of development has been achieved through the ongoing 100 Monuments Project. Design of access roads, installation of signage and employment of guides has been completed at over 100 heritage sites so far. At the current moment, it is possible to visit a total of about 200 prominent heritage sites of Botswana.

There are ongoing efforts to develop what is termed Botswana's Master Heritage Trails. This is yet another strategy in which the Botswana National Museum has made attempts to market its heritage sites. Botswana's unique heritage sites have been divided into about 9 heritage trails. These trails have been developed around significant landmarks of the country with the aim of linking outstanding heritage sites with traditional tourist destinations. The Southern Region Heritage Trail forms part of the Greater Gaborone Heritage Trail, which has so far been revised and near completion. The Greater Francistown Heritage Trail on the other hand, was launched in 2011 at The Domboshaba Cultural Festival as a way of promoting heritage sites in Bukalanga region for tourism and public appreciation.  Whilst implementing this huge task of ensuring sustainable development of heritage sites for tourism, the Botswana National Museum is actively engaged in developing heritage management partnerships with local communities.

This noble idea forms part of the Community Based Natural Resources Management (CBNRM) policy, which encourages local communities to utilise natural resources such as heritage sites for economic empowerment.

Through these partnerships, local people living near monuments are encouraged and helped to form trusts, which generate income utilising heritage resources found in their areas.  By 2008 collection of entrance fees and camping fees as well as selling of curios had been started by community trusts at Gcwihaba Caves, Lekhubu, Lepokole, Majojo Ruins, Manyana Rock Paintings, Matsieng, Mogonye Gorges, Moremi Gorge, Old Palapye and Tsodilo Hills World Heritage Site.

 The establishment of Gaing-O Trust in Mmatshumo Village in the 1990s best gives a classical example of the benefits of these sustainable heritage management ventures. This trust is tasked with management of Lekhubu National Monument, which is located in the Makgadikgadi Pans Heritage Trail. The trust was founded in the 1990s and by 1997 it had managed to attract various donor agencies. In the same year, the Humanist Institute for Development Cooperation (HIVOS) offered the trust P68, 000. 00 for the establishment of the trust and formulation of a management plan. In 2001 the trust acquired P92, 000. 00 from the European Development Fund, for the procurement of tents for accommodating the staff. A few years later in 2003, the Action for Economic Empowerment Trust funded the construction of offices and radio room, storerooms and a conference room to the tune of P1, 156, 596. Ever since its establishment, The Gaing-O Trust has been effective with regard to generating income through camping and entry fees. For instance, between April and December 2007, the trust generated P318, 511.20. Part of this income is used for the daily administration of the monument, payment of staff salaries as well as funding village development projects. The management style of Lekhubu Island continues to be a shining example of how communities can benefit from management and development of heritage sites.

At Gcwihaba Caves, the XaiXai Tlhabologo Trust and the Botswana National Museum have completed a gatehouse, camping sites and ablution blocks as a means of luring more tourists to the site. Further south at Mogonye another ecotourism partnership project is nearing completion. Send comments to: abelmabuse@gmail.com