National Workshop with Tourism Stakeholders in Botswana in Maun on 9 February-Project of the Development of National Tourism Strategy and Master Plan of Botswana

Africa
9 Feb 2022

UNWTO and the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism of Botswana are collaborating to prepare a National Tourism Strategy and Master Plan which will guide tourism development from 2022-2032.

The Tourism Strategy and Master Plan come at a strategic time- where it will address not only measures to stimulate the recovery of the tourism sector during COVID times but also pave the way for the sustainable development of Botswana through tourism. The workshop was organized to convene the stakeholders to prioritize issues to be addressed in the National Tourism Strategy and Master Plan for Botswana.

“We are looking for a Tourism Strategy and Master Plan which is robust, practical and implementable and which will enable Botswana to become the destination of choice” stated Dr. Oduetse Koboto, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism stated at the Opening Ceremony of the National Workshop.

The current phase of the project includes a detailed review of the tourism sector in Botswana, taking into account the Government’s Vision 2036 and Revised Tourism Policy for future tourism development and the role the sector will play in the country’s socio-economic advancement. in addition to the identification of the key areas and issues that should be addressed through the preparation of a long-term National Tourism Development Strategy and Master Plan for Botswana 2022-2032 which will be the next step of the project.

The National Strategy and Master Plan will provide guidance in terms of implementing and managing the Revised Tourism Policy of Botswana with a view toward the efficient management of tourism resources, both cultural and natural; the mainstreaming of tourism in the Government planning process; and the increased participation and ownership of the local communities in the development of the sector.