Botswana: The Government of Botswana officiating the 7th HATAB Annual Conference. In the conference, Vice President Mr Slumber Tsogwane said the Government of Botswana regards tourism as a critical sector in driving economic diversification and improving the quality of life for Batswana.
He further said the tourism sector creates jobs for people of all ages and skill levels, even across other sectors such as agriculture, construction, manufacturing, retail, arts, financial services and information and communications technology.
The Vice President said the value chain development that the industry displays makes it an engine for better jobs, poverty reduction and sustainable development.
For her part, the Minister of Environment and Tourism, Ms Philda Kereng, urged members of the tourism industry to continue streaming further business opportunities that the tourism sector displays. She encouraged participants to capture experiences and package the culture and heritage into products that can be traded.
Furthermore, the Minister said modern tourists require more than just wildlife that the country’s tourism is known for. She made a call to the industry giants to bring developments to tourism for it to be more beneficial and profitable.
HATAB Board Chair making a contribution, pleaded with the Government to review some of the laws and policies like the Export License to aid the tourism industry for it to continue making a positive impact on the livelihoods of Batswana.
Among the dignitaries attending the conference are the Ministers of Environment and Wildlife, Ms Philda Kereng; Labour and Home Affairs, Ms Annah Mokgethi; Agriculture, Mr Fedelis Molao and the Acting Minister of Trade, Ms Beauty Manake.
This year the theme of the 7th HATAB Annual Conference is “Rebuilding Tourism for the Future.” “Post Covid-19”. HATAB Annual Conference is a key stakeholder engagement gathering where HATAB members are given a platform to engage with policymakers, business leaders, academia and other key stakeholders.
This provides an opportunity to discuss challenges/emerging issues and come up with solutions to promote an enabling environment for the tourism sector’s development and growth.
