Botswana and sustainable tourism efforts

1. DESTINATION BOTSWANA AND
SUSTAINABLE TOURISM

2. LOCATION – BOTSWANA

3. BACKGROUND
• Tourism activity in Botswana
is spread through out the
country and mainly takes
place in and around in
protected areas.
• Imagine a country the size of
France and 45% of its land
area reserved as protected
areas.

4. Botswana’s protected land is
divided between 8 categories:
• National Parks
• Game Reserves
• Private Wildlife and Nature
Reserves
• Wildlife Management Areas
• Forest Reserves
• National Monuments
• World Heritage Sites
• Ramsar Sites.
Tourism Activity – Mainly in and
around protected areas
Tourism Policy – High Value Low
Volume in Eco –Sensitive areas
Main Objective – Environmental
Protection & Sustainable
Utilisation

5. SUSTAINABLE & RESPONSIBLE TOURISM
• The main and most
established tourism
product – Wildlife and
wilderness experience.
• Efforts on going to
diversify into mainly
culture and heritage, MICE
and Sports and Adventure.
• Botswana has the put in
place policy measures to
protect the environment
and sustainably utilise the
her natural Resources

6. SUSTAINABLE & RESPONSIBLE
TOURISM
• In our efforts to promote
Green and sustainable
tourism development
BOTSWANA has
developed a number of
policies, guidelines and
Standards
– National Eco Tourism
Strategy, 2002
– Ecotourism Best Practice
Guidelines User Manual
– Ecotourism Best Practice
Guidelines Technical
Manual
– Eco Certification System
& Standards

7. BOTSWANA ECO-CERTIFICATION
SYSTEM

8. THE 7 PRINCIPLES OF ECO-CERTIFICATION
• Principle 1:Operate a Sustainable Management Policy
• Principle 2: Green and responsible Marketing
• Principle 3: Minimisation of Negative Impact on
Environment on Environment by Physical Design
produced by operations
• Principle 4: Visitor Experience, Impact and
Interpretation
• Principle 5:Maximise Local (District) Community
Benefits
• Principle 6:Contribution to Conservation
• Principle 7: Nature Interpretation (Tour execution)

9. THE 7 PRINCIPLES OF ECO-CERTIFICATION
• Principle 1:Operate a Sustainable Management Policy
• Principle 2: Green and responsible Marketing
• Principle 3: Minimisation of Negative Impact on Environment
on Environment by Physical Design produced by operations
• Principle 4: Visitor Experience, Impact and Interpretation
• Principle 5:Maximise Local (District) Community Benefits
• Principle 6:Contribution to Conservation
• Principle 7: Nature Interpretation (Tour execution)

10. EXAMPLE - PRINCIPLE 3:
Minimise Environmental Impact: Design & Operations
• Site Development
• Comprehensive site selection process
• Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
• Screening + visual integration with landforms
• Facility location, layout and orientation e.g. access to natural environ.
• Natural, cultural, archaeological resource protection measures are
incorporated
• Energy Conservation
Use of Solar Panels, Photovoltaic, Wind Turbine
Use of low energy consumption appliances

11. PRINCIPLE 3:
Minimise Environmental Impact: Design & Operations

12. PRINCIPLE 3:
Environmental Impact: Design and Operations
• All of the hot water pipes insulated
• Visitor energy-use awareness program
• Purchasing Practices
• No-smoking rooms + guest areas
• Waste Management and Recycling
– biodegradable waste is composted and used on the landscaping
• Separation and Recycling program
• Guests informed about recycling activities
• Use of biodegradable cleaners and pesticides

13. PRINCIPLE 3:
Environmental Impact:- Renewable Energy

14. Principle 5
Visitor experience, impact and interpretation

15. BOTSWANA’S FLAGSHIP
CONSERVATION INITIATIVES
RHINO RELOCATION
PROGRAMME
• largest ever relocation
of black rhino in Africa
this year, whereby 1% of
the total population was
transferred to safe areas
in Botswana from our
neighbouring countries.
• The rhino relocation
project began in 2000,
and since then, 40 white
rhino and 42 black rhino
have been moved to
safer areas and now
roam freely.
• Target to relocate moe
200 rhinos to safe areas
in Botswana

16. Botswana is home to the
largest free roaming
population of African
Elephants in the world. It is
estimated that 160,000
elephants are resident in
Botswana, with 40,000
migratory herds passing
through, this accounts for
approximately 1/3 of the total
global African elephant
population. Sadly it is
estimated that every day 96
elephants are poached, but
we are proud to say that last
year Botswana only lost 38 of
our herd to poaching (in an
entire year).
ELEPHANT PROTECTION

17. NON CONSUPTIVE TOURISM
• Botswana has moved from consumptive to
non-consumptive tourism. HUNTING BAN –
WE STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT ONLY A
CAMERA SHOULD EVER BE AIMED AT
WILDLIFE…
• Former hunting concessions areas are being
developed into tourism zones that through
diverse tourism product development and
CBNRM programs, revenue for the local
communities continues throughout the year
not just seasonally and brings employment
to a far wider base.
• The hunting ban will continue - recovery
positive.

18. WE ENDEVOUR TO OFFER OUR TOURISTS AUTHENTIC,
LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCES… VISIT BOTSWANA!

19. THANK YOU