Botswana Minister of Environment and Tourism, Ms Philda Mani Kereng, acknowledged the opportunity to incorporate innovative technological solutions to support industries and to embrace new ones, such as digital tourism.
Ms Kereng noted that incorporating technology and innovative solutions will also facilitate and support the upscaling of the industries to support existing supply chains and develop new ones such as digital tourism.
The Botswana Minister of Environment and Tourism submitted this during her welcome remarks on Wednesday, October 4, at the 2023 Africa Tourism Leadership Forum and Award, held at the Gaborone International Conference Centre, Gaborone, Botswana. The 6th ATLF conference is themed Demand Dynamics to Shape the Future of intra-Africa Travel.”
She also analysed how innovation, small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), creative industries, and culture could affect the development of Africa’s tourist industry, emphasising the necessity of coordinating these sectors to completely expand opportunities for young people and industry stakeholders.
Ms Kereng, who expressed satisfaction with the participation of representatives of community-based Organisations throughout the country at the conference, lauded their pivotal role in growing tourism enterprises and associated value chains in the country.
“Local communities continue demonstrating a leading role in promoting sustainable tourism by integrating nature and cultural practices. Through this, much-needed jobs particularly for the youths are generated at the local level,” she said.
Ms Kereng then reeled out some of the milestones recorded by the Botswana Government, which she ascribed to key outcomes for hosting ATLF 2022.
These, according to her, include the development of a national MICE strategy for implementation with immediate effect; the partnership with the AfCFTA Secretariat to mainstream the role of tourism, creative and cultural industries through the inaugural AfCTA Forum on Tourism, Creative and Cultural Industries as a key contributor to intra-Africa travel.
She added that hosting the ATLF 2022 also led to establishing the Africa Tourism Private Sector Alliance to be endorsed by the FCFTA Secretariat during the ATLF 2022, and the launch of the Africa Tourism Partners and UNISA Women Tourism Entrepreneurship Programme.
