PRESIDENT TAKES ACTIVE INTEREST IN TOURISM SECTOR

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SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/S, AF/EPS, EEB, OES

E.O 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD SENV PGOV EAIR SCUL BC
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT TAKES ACTIVE INTEREST IN TOURISM SECTOR


1. (U) SUMMARY: Botswana's 2009 "Tourism Pitso" (an annual seminar
for government and tourism operators) was attended by many high
level government officials, including H.E. President Ian Khama. The
President participated in the conference for over two and a half
hours, highlighting the importance he places on Botswana's tourism
sector and environmental conservation. The conference reviewed
findings of a 2009 tourism competitiveness report and Botswana's
strengths and weaknesses within the sector. During the conference
the GOB committed to improving local community opportunities in
tourism and to expanding Botswana's infrastructure that supports
tourism. END SUMMARY.


2. (U) With over 400 people in attendance, the 2009 Tourism Pitso
was graced by the H.E. President Ian Khama and other dignitaries,
including the Ministers of Tourism, Labor & Home Affairs, Local
Government and Works & Transport; Members of Parliament; Chief
Executive Officers from various parastatals and tourism operators.
Though President Khama generally makes only short, ceremonial
appearances at this type of event, he spent over two and a half
hours at this seminar, and in addition to giving brief remarks, he
participated in the discussions as part of a panel, even responding
to many audience questions.


3. (U) Botswana's "Tourism Pitso" is an industry seminar that was
first hosted in 2006 by the Honorable Minister of Tourism Mr. Kitso
Mokaila. "Pitso," which means "a call" in Setswana, has become an
annual event and is indeed a call for the Ministry of Tourism and
the private sector to cultivate a true and meaningful collaboration
between them. The GOB's strategic plan within the tourism sector
leans heavily towards promotion of tourism investment opportunities
and promotion and marketing of the tourism sector as a whole to
ensure the businesses remains viable. Currently tourism revenues
make up approximately 10 percent of Botswana's GDP. The theme of
this year's seminar was "Tourism Responding to Challenges in the
Global Market".


4. (U) The seminar participants reviewed "Travel and Tourism
Competitiveness Report 2009 - A Focus on Botswana Performance,"
which was compiled by the Botswana National Productivity Centre
(BNPC). According to the report, the Travel and Tourism (T & T)
index indicates that there has been very little improvement from
2008 to 2009 within the tourism industry in Botswana. In the index,
Botswana ranked very low in the areas of: business environment;
infrastructure; and human, cultural and natural resources. Botswana
received moderate marks for price competitiveness. The 2009 T & T
international ranking for Botswana is 79 out of 133 countries.
However, Botswana ranks number three within the region after
Mauritius and South Africa.


5. (U) The report identified strengths and weaknesses within the
tourism sector. Botswana's strengths include its favorable tax
regime and generally low prices as well as its beautiful natural
parks. Additionally, the country's parks, with their large tracts of
nationally protected land, have achieved international acclaim for
their beauty, rich flora and fauna and lack of environmental damage.
The report identified a number of weaknesses within the industry,
including: a limited qualified labor pool; lack of "open" air
service agreements; underdeveloped transport and tourism
infrastructure; long business start-up times; and a policy regime
that is not conducive to the development of the sector. In addition
to these weaknesses, major concerns voiced at the meeting centered
on a poor working environment, poor transport infrastructure, few
job openings and poor remuneration (especially for locals). Though
there are a good number of Batswana graduate students in tourism
studies, many of them do not enter the tourism sector after
graduation, but opt to work in other sectors citing unattractive
employment packages and an unwillingness to work in remote areas
away from their families.


6. (U) There are few tertiary educational institutions in Botswana
that offer tourism programs. The University of Botswana has
recently introduced some tourism courses, however most training is
still done outside the country - particularly in neighboring South
Africa. According to the Botswana Tourism Board (BTB) training
facilities for eco-tourism are not yet up to standard and they are
still conducting a study on the Eco-Certification systems.


7. (U) The GOB's main focus is on involving local communities in
tourism, reducing the time it takes to start doing business, as well
as improving both the transport and tourism infrastructure. Under
the GOB's latest National Development Plan (NDP-10),the Ministry of
Works and Transport intends to upgrade a number of roads and some
airstrips, and all accommodation facilities registered under the
Ministry of Tourism are now going to be graded. (Note: Econoff spoke
separately to officials at Botswana's Civil Aviation Authority and
learned that some of the promised air strip improvements will be
delayed due to the economic crisis. End Note.)

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8. (SBU) COMMENT: Botswana's tourism sector is an important source
of non-mining revenues and offers continued potential for economic
growth and diversification. However, there is still room for
improved and diversified infrastructure and additional investment in
the sector. It is clear that the GOB, and President Khama in
particular, place high importance on the growth of the tourism
sector, as evidenced by President Khama spending over two hours at
the conference. The President rarely commits so much time to any
single event. Additionally, Khama's animated participation and
seeming ease while answering audience questions shows that he is
well briefed, comfortable, and engaged with issues related to
tourism, especially environmental conservation - an issue especially
close to his heart. END COMMENT.


NOLAN