Ceo’S ForeWorD
Botswana soars ahead For the first time in Botswana’s history the annual number of tourists visiting the country surpassed its citizenry. It is on this positive note that I welcome you to the eighth issue of ‘This is Botswana’, the annual publication of the Hospitality and Tourism Association of Botswana (HATAB). As an advocacy body, HATAB provides its
Delta) remain the country’s most visited
members with a unified voice to address
regions, there has been an upsurge in recent
government and other stakeholders on the
years of visitors to Francistown, Gaborone
challenges they face. HATAB hosts regular
and other regions.
networking opportunities and encourages synergy between members and key
Our vision at HATAB, and indeed as
players within the sector. The organisation
Batswana, is to tap into the natural warmth
has created an ‘enabling environment’ for
and hospitality of our people and share our
business to grow within the country’s private
cultural heritage and the splendour of our
tourism sector.
natural environment with international tourists as well as with one another. As an
toUriSm DriveS GDp
organisation, we will encourage the sector to
Tourism is Botswana’s largest generator of
nine districts within the country.
focus on cultural tourism and in each of the
GDP after mining. The sector grew steadily after independence in 1966 and has been on the rise ever since. Botswana is the third most visited African country, according
WHat HataB StaNDS For
H
ATAB is a private sector, membership-based organisation within Botswana’s tourism sector. Its 230-plus members are categorised into nine sub-sectors:
BWP 2.9 billion being 3.7 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (2010 Department of Tourism statistic). This mainstay sector provides employment to thousands of people and encourages the development of skills.
• Camps and lodges
moviNG ForWarD
• Hotels
Botswana is a land of striking beauty and
• Self-catering apartments
many contrasts, which you can read about
• Mobile safaris
in this publication. They range from the
• Tour operators • Services
4
to recent statistics. Tourism contributed
Okavango Delta, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa, and the Kalahari Desert, which covers about 70 per cent of
• Conservation and wildlife management
the country, to the vast Makgadikgadi Pan.
• Air charters and airlines.
While Chobe and Ngamiland (the Okavango
Lily rakorong Chief Executive Officer, HATAB