04 Oct 2018

21-year-old Mantlenyane Nkakolang from Toteng, who was crowned the first ever Miss Bojanala 2018 recently in Maun says the pageant provides a platform for youth entrepreneurs to participate in the tourism industry.

Nkakolang, who won P10 000 for her tourism project, said at the pageant that she was happy that the project would help advocate for young people in the country.

“My intention is to advocate and work with other stakeholders to promote youth entrepreneurs to  create employment for others’’.

Miss Bojanala 2018 said youth entrepreneurs had potential in the tourism industry, therefore they should be given opportunities to showcase their talent.

Nkakolang also won a scholarship to do Basic Tourism course in Maun at the institution to be announced before end of this year.

For her part, managing director of Bojanala Tourism Festival, Tracy Mokoya, said tourism was the second most contributor to the country’s GDP after diamonds,   therefore young people should use the opportunities available and participate in the sector. 

Mokoya said Bojanala Tourism Festival was focused on building the tourism sector using smart ideas from young people to further create a platform for employment creation through a series of events which included Miss Bojanala 2018 pageant, Setswana Cuisine Cook-off, Cultural parade, Bojanala 24 Hour Arts festival and Tourism Expo.

She said the intention was to promote sustainable tourism in the country through events such as Miss Bojalana and also encouraged young entrepreneurs and the community to be part of the event through partnership and participation. She said Miss Bojanala would be held annually . This year’s  princess won P10 000 and Basic Tourism Course training, first princess Tepo Tidimalo from Shorobe won P4 000 and the second princess Keoreng Baganaletso from Maun won P2 000. ENDs