03 Feb 2020

The Minister for Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism Ms Philda Kereng says the government is committed to seeing cultural tourism developing in the country to generate more revenue.

Speaking during a cultural night and talk held prior to World Wetlands Day commemorations in Maun recently, Ms Kereng said cultural heritage was paramount since communities had been protecting the wetlands from time immemorial.

The attendants urged the government to incorporate indigenous knowledge in conservation.

She therefore said Community Trusts must explore cultural tourism which will attract many tourists who will bring revenue in the country.

Ms Kereng observed that cultural products can be packaged and exported to other countries, adding that the government was committed to find markets for local communities to improve livelihoods to curb poverty.

In his remarks, Sankoyo village Kgosi Gokgathang Moalosi implored the government to incorporate indigenous knowledge in conservation of natural resources.

Kgosi Moalosi said communities had rich indigenous practices that were used in the past to safeguard the natural resources while using them for survival.

He said using indigenous knowledge would also motivate communities to take part in conservation of wetlands.

He said, for example communities used canoes which had less impact on breeding water species and plants as reeds.

“Conservation is not possible without local communities and communities become proactive if they are involved in management of natural resources,” he said.

Kgosi Moalosi also said communities must benefit more from the natural resources for them to be active in management of the resources.

For her part, Okavango Research Institute official, Dr Susan Keitumetse said incorporating cultural heritage could bring communities closer to tourism.

Dr Keitumetse said cultural heritage was another aspect of diversifying tourism in Botswana which was mainly wildlife based.

The government, she said could adopt cultural heritage by funding research on cultural identity.

“International tourists get half of what the tourism product offers which is wildlife based only,” she said.

Dr Keitumetse cited that Maun could have a tourism museum providing information on heritage sites found in the district which would be a tourism attraction while marketing Maun instead of being the gate way to the Okavango Delta only. ENDS