03 Jul 2018

It is essential to diversify Botswana’s tourism product if the country is to benefit from its resources in a sustainable way.
These sentiments were echoed by the Minister for Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism, Tshekedi Khama during the just-ended Race for Rhinos event held in the Makgadikgadi Pans.
In addition, he explained that the event was inspired by air races abroad, but noted that they decided to give it a theme, which is rhino conservation. The theme, he highlighted was fitting in that Botswana was well known internationally for her tireless conservation efforts.
Khama also indicated that as part of product diversification within the tourism sector, they were working on moving activities to other parts of the country to avoid congesting events in Gaborone.
The event, which is in its fourth year, he added, offered unparalled publicity to both rhino conservation and Botswana tourism, in that participants who take part go on to spread the message in their countries.
 He also asserted that the Race for Rhinos story was sold far and wide and helps create awareness on the different tourism products on offer in Botswana.’
Consequently, he explained that the event had been staged at Sua Pan in the past two years, after being moved from Lekhubu Island, which is a national monument due to heavy flooding.
“Our country has a good reputation for protecting endangered species, therefore Race for Rhinos emphasizes that theme”, he said. Asked about measures put in place to mitigate against environmental destruction of the pan’s fragile ecosystem which also supports life of wild animals and birds such as flamingos, Minister Khama noted that great care had been taken to cause minimal destruction of the ecosystem.
Together with their partners, Botash Mine, he explained that a waste management strategy was developed including the use of dust suppressants during the event to control pollution of the natural habitat.
On other issues, Minister Khama highlighted that they are working on ways to ensure that Batswana actively enter and take part in the tourism industry.
In the past year, he mentioned that the number of visitors arriving in the country surpassed the country’s population as they stood at 2.3 million.
Taking advantage of those numbers, he highlighted, would go a long way in boosting local empowerment.
 For his part, Botash acting managing director, Kangangwani Phatshwane explained that they were working in partnership with Botswana Tourism Organisation(BTO) and had availed space to host the Race for Rhinos event in the last two years. According to the acting MD, their support was logistical as they provided boats, fire trucks and use of the mine’s airport.
“We also help in kind to prepare the wilderness and have injected between P6-7 million in the organisation of the event,” he added. Since an event of this magnitude brings a lot of people, Phatshwane noted that a waste management plan was put in place, which included temporary construction of structures and dust control. He said since the pan is a RAMSAR site, they have zero tolerance for waste.
In addition, he maintained that they also insisted on the use of bio-degradable foams for dust suppressants and indicated that since the event was for a few days, they had decided against erecting any permanent structures.
BTO marketing manager for products and events, Thabang Segaetsho explained that the event had become the world’s largest air race with 116 aircraft participating breaking the previous record of 100.
The race route, he indicated included areas with rhinos and also noted that last year the event attracted 68 aircrafts.
One of the main achievements of the event, he noted was that participants came from all over the world and this had helped in the diversification of the tourism product from being heavily reliant on nature. ENDS