Tourism in Botswana - Assignment Example

Tourism in Botswana University Affiliation Name Tourism in Botswana A map of Botswana and its major tourist attractions Map retrieved from http://www.sa-venues.com/maps/botswana_attractions.htm Introduction Botswana has experienced tremendous growth in tourism within the last three decades. While only a few people visited Botswana as a tourist destination before 1980s, since then, real inception of tourism took place in Botswana leading to the tremendous growth witnessed in Botswana’s tourism industry. A wide variety of cultural and natural attractions that suit the motivations of visitors from different countries was a major factor contributing to the growth of tourism in Botswana. The tourism industry in Botswana has reacted to the global travel market by providing the market with a diverse range of facilities to satisfy tourist’s demands. Tourism has provided Botswana with the impetus to preserve its cultures besides protecting its heritage. This project aims at providing an analysis of Botswana as a tourism destination while exploring the impact of tourism on Botswana society and culture. The project identifies the attractions or “pull factors” that attract people to Botswana and the motives that influence people to respond to the “pull” of its attractions. The project also identifies ways in which the major divisions of the tourist industry supply the needs of tourists. Botswana’s natural environment Botswana is a landlocked country with diverse natural features that are major attractions to tourists and these include wild animals, Kalahari Desert, and Okavango delta. Lonely planet (2011) describes the country as lying at an average elevation of 1000m, and consisting of vast and nearly level sand-filled basin characterized by scrub-covered savannah. The Okavango delta in Botswana is the largest delta in the world and it is also referred to as the Okavango swamp. A delta is a natural feature that marks where a river ends and Okavango delta is an interesting feature since the Kavango River ends in the Kalahari Desert, which is a semi-arid expanse of sandy valleys, covering nearly 85% of the country, including the entire central and southwestern regions (Lonely planet, 2011).The feature of a river ending in a desert and thus forming a delta ending in a desert provides a unique attraction for visitors and these offer beautiful sceneries for tourists. The diverse wildlife in the Okavango delta is also one of the main tourist attractions to Botswana. The swamp is home to animals such as the lions, elephants, buck, wildebeest, and hippos besides reptiles such as crocodiles and birds such as the jacana, which walks on plants growing in swamps and appears as if it is walking on water (Gough, 2010, p. 22). These provide major attractions for tourists and activities that include photography, hunting, game walks though the shores of the swamps, daytime animal safaris and night drives through the bush, besides bird watching, boat rides through the swamps, and finding out about the rich flora and fauna that dots the swamps. Taboos and totems in Botswana cultures have aided the preservation of various wild animals. For instance, in traditional Botswana, totems acted as virtual indicators of ethnic identity among different communities with the examples of Baphaleng community associated with Impalas and the Bakwena with crocodiles (Isar, 2011, p. 160).By providing a community’s collective identity such totems led to taboos, which are unwritten and profound social prohibitions relating to human behavior and activities that enable a society’s members to avoid making certain mistakes that may relate to environmental and natural resources. In communities such as Botswana it was apparent that it was a taboo to kill ones totem or the animals that the totem fed on thus leading to the preservation of such animals (Baidu, 2008). Major features of Botswana society Botswana 2010 population estimate indicate that of the 2,029,000 people in Botswana, bantus are the majority with two thirds of the population belonging to the ethnic Tswana with other main groups including Khalgari, Ngwato, Tswapong, kalanga and Birwa, with smaller groups such as the Khoisan speaking group of San and Khoekhoe. The major spoken language includes English, which is the official language and Tswana. The major religious beliefs include 85% Christianity, which is largely unaffiliated and independent and smaller populations of Protestants and traditional beliefs (Encyclopedia, 2011). Christianity was introduced in Botswana through the process of colonization and it took root in the country. Some of the groups such as the San and Khoekhoe follow a traditional nomadic way of life with most other Bantu groups adopting agricultural activities (Encyclopedia, 2011). The Okavanga delta region is home to 122,000 people from different ethnic groups such as Bayei, San, Batawana, Bakgalagadi and Bambuskushu and it is estimated that over 90% of the populations depend on directly or indirectly on the delta (Mbaiwa, 2004, p. 166). These groups arrived at the Okavango River at different times and the oldest inhabitants are the Khoisan who practice traditional nomadism and are also hunters and gatherers, who have lived in the region for over 10000 years adapting to the harsh climatic changes of the kalahari region and the delta region. Many of them have been assimilated into the Bantu speaking ethnic cultures which occupied these areas around 500 years ago and this has been through intermarriages (Mbaiwa, 2005, 159). The different ethnic groups have lived in peace for long periods. Among the crucial cultural artifacts include baskets and carvings. Botswana heritage resources Heritage is a word that refers to the traditions, customs, intangible cultural elements, languages and properties that are handed down from one generation to another generation (Trotter, 2001, p. 141). Heritage tourism therefore involves visiting various historical monuments, at galleries, villages, theme parks, and historic houses that may help the tourists to learn about the destinations history. In Botswana, the heritage attractions include the Tsodilo hills, which is recognized by UNESCO as a cultural heritage and it bears religious and spiritual significance to local people and provides a record of human settlement with the over 4500 rock paintings that have existed for several millennium. San rock paintings such as the famous “whale” “lion” and “two rhinos” are dated as early as 24,000years ago and they draw attention to various periods in the history of Botswana (Segadika, 2011). Botswana also contains Paleolithic artifacts dating back to the pre-history period and to the origins of mankind 2 million years ago and these are found in areas such as Makgadikgadi salt pans, where fossilized remains on prehistoric animals, some which are extinct are found along with spear points and hand axes belonging to the middle stone ages and early stone ages (Raymond and Pheno, 2001, p. 26). Heritage preservation in Botswana faces challenges of preservation as the San who were the early descendants are very few in number with the bantus dominating thus resulting to differences in interests, values, priorities and expectations causing heritage complexity (Nyaupane, 2009, p. 157). Involving communities has however reduced this dissonance. Tourists are able to identify the activities that these communities were involved in historically. Tourists can also visit the national museum and art gallery and view artifacts, paintings and historical documents that provide a glimpse into the history of the Botswana communities. The history of tourism in Botswana International tourism only started taking a clear shape after the Second World War and for countries such as Botswana; international tourism developed well after its independence in 1966 and only in earnest as recent as 1990s (Mazonde and Pradip, 2007, p. 84). Initially, growth of tourism was hindered by the fact that the location of the country was far from major international tourists destinations in North America and Europe (Mbaiwa, 2006, 153). In the 1970s to the 1990s, it was also impacted negatively by the regions political situations (Mazonde and Pradip, 2007, p. 84). Although historically not known as a tourist destination, Botswana has grown its tourism industry to become a major contributor to the country’s gross domestic product. Botswana promoted the tourism experience that involved wildlife viewing and hunting. From 1990s Botswana became a major tourist destination as growth of international tourism focused on consumption of heritage, involving learning other people’s cultures and places besides environmental wilderness experiences (Mbaiwa, 2006, 154). The need for Botswana to diversify economic growth in Botswana from over-reliance on diamonds was a major drive for the government’s initiative to develop tourism in Botswana and this was well articulated in the 1997 National development Plan (Mazonde and Pradip, 2007, p. 84). Botswana has been largely promoted as a high cost low volume destination aimed at preserving the ecosystem. Likely motivational factors Many researchers seek a continuum to construct and explain the motivations of tourists to visit certain places. The difficulties in ascertaining and studying motivations is attributed to the intrinsic nature of motivations making it difficult to ascertain with certainty the factors that lead individuals to do or act the way they do such as choosing a specific type of holiday (Woodside, 2007, p. 21). The behavior of tourists in their destinations can aid in determining the motivations of these tourists to visit certain locations. A model aimed at enhancing understanding motivations provided for a two-dimensional approach that recognizes the psychological interplay of escaping and seeking as motivational factors. Using this approach in Botswana, tourists who visit Botswana are motivated by the adventure offered by the hunting and the safaris through unexplored natural environment. An escape may also form part of the motivational factors as tourists who visit aim at seeking an escape from the routine daily office lives and the accompanying stressful environments. The motivations to rewind and renew their energies are major factors that attract tourists to Botswana with its rich and diverse nature and wildlife. Through interaction with the Botswana culture, the tourists also get an opportunity to understand the cultural differences between different societies. ‘Push’ factors Weaver and Lawton, 2006, p. 470 describe “Push factors” as encompassing social, demographic, economic, political and technological forces that stimulate demand for tourism by pushing consumers away from their places of residence to the tourism destinations. As a high cost destination, Botswana has attracted high net visitors who have the income, time and resources, access to modern technology, transport and communication to enable them to travel. Other push factors that have contributed to the growth in tourists who visit Botswana include escape from familiar environments, desire for novelty, sports and adventure, excitement and prestige besides the freedom to travel (Woodside, 2006, p. 20). ‘Pull’ factors Woodside, 2006, p. 20 describes pull factors as those factors that stimulate tourism to a specific location or destination and these may include factors such as attractions, proximity, stability and affordability, image, stability among others. Botswana major pull factors have included its tranquility that is manifested through the longer periods of peace that it has enjoyed along with a vibrant democratic system (Mbaiwa, 2006, p. 155). Another pull factor is its rich diversity of wildlife that offers adventure to the tourists. Botswana for instance has the largest populations of elephants in the world. The friendliness of the local populations is another significant pull factor. Activities of tourists in Botswana Much of Botswana is remote and remains accessible to only a small number of visitors, thus making it an ideal wildlife and wilderness experience. It has wide, open arid savannah and vast salt-pans with unique inland waterways of the Okavango Delta. A major tourist activity is dugout canoe or ‘mekoro’ excursion with a guide to pole you through the calm, shallow waters of the delta while keeping one eye open for the smaller aspects of the beautiful environment, which are so often missed from a vehicle or motor boat. In the heart of Okavango delta, outside the Game Reserve, tourists enjoy taking part in organized walking activities from a lodge base. Included as part of many lodges’ activity packages, these are around three to four hours activity, by no means any strenuous. It’s the opportunity to see wildlife at relatively close range on foot that is most exhilarating, especially with an experienced guide to ensure a safe experience. The wildlife in the Delta is rich and varied including carnivore populations, a staggering variety of birds. The tourists are most excited by the fact that they are able to witness the complex interactions of a truly natural environment, with wildlife populations that have never been imported or controlled in any way in large, protected but unfenced areas. Horseback riding through the lush floodplains offers an exhilarating game viewing experience to the tourists. (Spenceley A 2008) Opportunities for photography are offered to the tourists by scenic flights in small, fixed wing planes or helicopters over the delta. The tourists also enjoy fishing activities on the Chobe River, outside the National park boundaries. The bream species, pike and tiger are among the potential prizes making it rewarding and fun at the same time. Storytelling, Safari hunting, camping and lodging are other major ecotourism activities in Botswana. There is also viewing of ancient rock paintings at the Mothabaneng village with stunning natural beauty and land formations. The Impact of Tourism on the society The advent of ecotourism in Botswana apart from the usual issues discussed by researchers on economic and environmental effects, tourism also has both positive and negative socio-cultural impact on the local community (Mbaiwa, 2004, 163). Among positive impact, tourism has encouraged the participation of local communities in ecotourism which has increased social capital in many villages. To enable them to participate and benefit from the growing industry, various communities have formed ecotourism institutions which are community based, also known as Trusts (Spenceley 2008, p.208). This has enabled them access to land and related natural resources for ecotourism purposes, a major benefit for the remote communities. ‘Through the Wildlife Conservation Policy of 1986, land in wildlife areas was subdivided into smaller land zones known as Controlled Hunting Areas (CHAs) while the Tourism policy of 1990 allows local communities to participate in ecotourism projects’ ( Spenceley 2008 cites Mbaiwa 2004) Tourism has also played a significant role in rural livelihoods and economic development in Botswana. For instance, people living in some rural communities in the Okavango delta have had their lives transformed by income generated from ecotourism. In addition, these communities have invested a percentage of their funds in other projects and assets accessible to their villages like vehicles, buildings, communication equipment, and therefore accelerating development. Also assets owned by the community are bought using funds generated from community ecotourism enterprises. Increased accessibility due to availability of transport in the remote areas is an example of developments taking place. There has also been creation of a lot of employment opportunities in these remote areas, as well as empowerment of communities in conservation and tourism development. ‘In this sense, ecotourism can be described as one of the tools promoting economic development in rural areas of Botswana.’ (Spenceley 2008 p.215). Negative and positive social cultural effects are also further impacts of tourism in Botswana. Negative impact has included racism, breakup of traditional families, enclave tourism, crime, prostitution, and relocation of traditional communities and use of traditionally unacceptable vulgar language (Mbeiwa, 2004, p. 164). Accommodation in Botswana According to Murphy A. et al, Botswana has a good number of comfortable campsites and upper –midrange hotels and lodges, and those who do not want to camp a tent is recommended (Murphy et al, 2010 p. 111). Up market places tend to price in US dollars as opposed to the local pula. In the Okavango Delta, there are midrange places, largely given over to luxury camps and top-end lodges. Every town has at least one hotel, while the offers are several in different price ranges in larger towns and tourist areas. Most safari camps and lodges are found around Chobe National Park, the Tuli Block, the Linyani Marshes and all over Okavango Delta, ranging from tiny tented camps to large complexes of brick or reed chalets (Murphy et al 2010 p. 112). The campsites are usually booked through Department of Wildlife & National Parks (DWNP) offices. Transportation While a few lodges are accessible by car (4WD), most of the tourist sites, especially the Okavango Delta camps are accessed only by air. The Botswana’s main airport, Sir Seretse Khama International Airport is well served with flights from Johannesburg and Harare, though its seldom used by tourists than the other popular entry points, Maun Airport and Kasane Airport. The national carrier, Air Botswana, flies routes within Southern Africa. There is no European or North American airline flies directly into Botswana. Therefore most travelers connect through Johannesburg or Cape Town in South Africa, both served by a good number of international and domestic carriers. Being a land locked country, border crossings between Namibia and South Africa are also possible, with only a request for visitors to clean their shoes with a disinfectant dip, to prevent carrying foot-and-mouth disease into the country. Current registration papers are also needed for those entering by vehicle. (Murphy A 2007 p.127). High costs of logistics needed to operate a remote area, and a deliberate policy of the government to maximize revenues from tourism, whilst preserving the pristine nature of the country to limit number of visitors, has made Botswana an expensive tourist destination. Therefore traveling would need adequate budgeting. There are higher services for decent and well-equipped vehicle. For mobile safaris for backpackers, there are options for supply of sleeping bags, drinks etc. Gastronomic Experiences According to Lube, ‘Lesotho boasts a world-class ski resort under construction in the highlands, one of only three in Africa.’ (Lube 2003 ). This is expected to have a positive effect on tourist attraction. The completion of the Lesotho Highlands water project also opened up the interior of the country since it left many roads in its wake. There is also an introduction of an annual three-day national arts and cultural festival that draws large number of visitors from South Africa. However, Botswana largely relies on ecotourism as a major tourist attraction. This boasts the big- game tourism in their wild and natural setting. There is also the Kalahari Desert, another unique natural attraction, and the salt flatland expanse of Makgadikgadi pans in the central and northern parts of the country. A Brochure to promote Botswana as a Tourist destination In order to increase demand for tourism to Botswana, promotion will be used to appeal to the potential customer’s needs, values, attitudes, demands, and tastes by conveying a positive image about Botswana as a tourist destination and thereby matching the tourists pull factors with the promotional material. Among the tools that are used in promotion of Botswana as a tourist destination include use of brochures, which may illustrate the kind of activities and experiences that form part of the adventure that tourists may relish in Botswana. The purpose of the brochure is to market and promote Botswana as an adventure and wildlife safari and hunting Premier tourism destination of choice, besides promoting it as a heritage, cultural and wilderness tourist destination. Key features that will be highlighted in the brochure include the rich wildlife, with the famous big five African wildlife animals forming the core of the promotion message, and with the natural environment illustrated by pictures of the Okavango delta and Kalahari Desert and the wilderness that makes Botswana a unique safari tourism destination. Pictures of birds such as the jacana will also be used to pull the tourists to visit Botswana due to the opportunities for beautiful photography. The brochure will also include pictures of the ancient artistic works museums and historical monuments aimed at attracting cultural and heritage tourists. Information on the available accommodations will also be included in the brochure. Sample bronchure for use as promotional material for Botswana tourism destinations Botswana: your dream tourism destination!! Birdwatching Wildlife safari Wilderness Take beautiful photos An opportunity for adventure an amazing wilderness floating Jacana Big Five up close Famous Okavango swamp The floating Jacana is one See the Big Five up-close get an experience of wildernes of among the most photogenic in the various parks in through a visit of the worlds birds that you would have an Botswana including the Largest delta marked by a oppotuinity to watch. Only world reknown Chobe river ending in a desert. in Botswana National Park. Adventure you cannot miss out. Top end safaris for wildlife safaris For Camping at the Okavango belt Companies specializing companies specialized in wildlife Pulse Africa specialist tour planners In top-end safaris visit safaris visit Quality accommodation Abercombie & Kent Wilderness safaris horseback tours www.abercombiekent.com www.wilderness-safaris.com gastronomic tours Ker & Downey Tel: 27/11/327-0468 Tel: 27/13/741-2458 www.kerdowney.com Conclusion Botswana provides a rich collection of experiences for adventure, heritage and cultural tourists. In the varied sceneries offered by the rich wilderness and wildlife in Okavango swamp, adventure tourists have a chance to engage in adventure through wildlife safaris and other activities such as wildlife hunting. The chance to enjoy Cultural tourism experiences is also offered through visits to prehistoric sites that provide a window for tourists to appreciate some ancient African cultures such as the San culture, which is considered as one of the last cultures to rely on hunting and gathering. Tourists also get a chance to relax as they view wild animals at close range in the various parks and some popular birds such as the jacana in the Okavango swamp. Although tourism has provided Botswana with the impetus to preserve its wildlife through ecotourism, the influx of tourists has resulted to diverse challenges such as the erosion of cultural values that were considered important in the Botswana’s cultures, among other challenges. While Botswana has adopted a low-volume high value tourism, recent increases in the number of tourists visiting Botswana is an indication of a shift towards mass tourism and it remains to be seen how the shift will influence future development in tourism in Botswana. 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