Speaking at the launch of the company at the Gaborone Sun last Thursday, Huggins said travel and tourism was currently one of the fastest growing sectors of the global economy in terms of job creation.
In Botswana, tourism accounts for one in every 10.8 jobs and is the second largest foreign currency earner, said Huggins, who is the chairman of Travel Leisure.
In terms of the top 20 foreign currency earners in tourism for Africa, the World Tourism Organisation (WTO) ranks the country at number seven, generating over 549 million United States dollars per year, the former Ambassador said.
"As you can imagine, there is significant growth potential in this area, and we at Travel Leisure want to play a role in improving these rankings for Botswana."
Huggins said he had made a long-term investment in Travel Leisure and that he and his partners would have to work hard to establish their brand in the United States and other markets.
"Having said that, this is a challenge that I look forward to confronting because the success of Travel Leisure will not only (be measured) in a significant return on investment for the company; we will also play a role in the creation of wealth and jobs for citizens in the rural areas where our lodges are located."
The company is being launched at a particularly auspicious time for tourism in southern Africa on the 'eve' of the FIFA World Soccer Cup to be hosted by South Africa in 2010.
"We see 2010 as the year for Africa, and the goal for Travel Leisure is to ensure that Botswana benefits financially from the expected increase in tourism to the region for 2010 and beyond," Huggins noted.
Part of the plan is to work with the Ministry of the Environment, Wildlife and Tourism and the Botswana Tourism Board to mount promotions to bring American and other tourists to Botswana during that time and beyond.
"Everyone in this room, as well as all Batswana, has a role to play in this process," Huggins said.
The idea will be to ensure that after watching games in South Africa, tourists come to Botswana to experience world-class safaris and savour cultural sites.
Meanwhile, Adam Chilisa, who is the Chief Executive Officer of the company, has characterised Travel Leisure as an in-bound tourist operation that will focus primarily on having tourists make their bookings directly with Botswana's renowned destinations of the Chobe and the Okavango Delta.
"We supply tourists (from both international and domestic sources) to properties owned by Botswana's only public listed company, Chobe Holdings Limited, in Botswana, Namibia and Zambia," he said.
Chilisa was optimistic that in the fullness of time, their company will be well-placed to supply tourists to Zimbabwe, South Africa and the rest of the SADC region.
He said the Chilisa family had unanimously agreed to appoint Ambassador Huggins as Chairman of Travel Leisure.
