Page 12 - Meetings Botswana 2024 FINAL

12 Meetings Botswana 2024
This is an initiative that has been taken to diversify
the economy away from diamonds, a commodity
that has supported the country through time, and
is currently the primary engine of growth for much of the
country’s independence. Economists and development
strategists have cautioned against the over-reliance on
a single commodity, because it is one which has a rather
short life span and as a result is ultimately unsustainable.
There have been major challenges but also some level of
success in efforts to diversify sources of income to come
from manufacturing, and lately the country has put in
place some mechanisms to tap into the mineral value
chain. The discourse around the beneficiation of diamonds
and other exported raw materials is a continuing one, and
time will tell how it will ultimately unfold.
Meanwhile, the tourism sector is turning out to be the
best hope to transform the economy away from mining
because it has stood out as the second largest contributor
to the economy after diamonds. Botswana is not only
rich in underground resources but also possesses clean
ecosystems awash with a diverse array of flora, fauna
and cultural resources. Botswana accommodates close to
a third of the world’s elephants, and is home to pristine
world heritages sites such as the primeval rock art of the
Tsodilo Hills, and a spectacular oasis in a desert that is
the Okavango Delta. Coupled with these natural wonders,
the country is also blessed with a free, just and peaceful
socio-political environment drawing from its sound and
consultative governance style, micro-economic prudence
and adherence to the rule of law.
As such, the country has well earned a place as arguably
the best destination for safari vacations in the world, at least
according to a feature recently written by Suzie Dundas on
the Matador Network, a global media brand for modern
adventurers. This is in part the result of Botswana’s low-
impact, high-end tourism meant to discourage not only
natural habitat loss but also the very environmental
resources on which tourism itself depends. These and other
favourable factors have turned Botswana into a magnet for
international travellers who report it as a safe and a pleasant
place to visit. As such, tourism has been growing and the
number of visitors soared to approximately 1.9 million in
2019, generating earnings of about P14.8 billion that year.
Nevertheless, as much as the mineral sector will not
take Botswana very far without an addition of value, it is
evident that safari tourism also has a finite life, leading it
to require some form of diversification into other tourism
offerings. This is because as more people visit over time,
animal habitats erode which compromises the authenticity
of the experiences available. It is a problem that is difficult
to eradicate despite efforts being made to mitigate the
issue.
Such concerns have become the basis for the
development of the MICE industry in Botswana. In
2021, the country launched its National Tourism Policy
to pave way for other players into the tourism value chain,
and in particular to promote the country as a hub for
international events. Pundits have made a convincing case
for MICE, explaining that it has the potential to bring
more meaningful economic activity by way of foreign
I N T R O D U C T I O N
Building the Infrastructure Necessary
FOR GLOBAL BUSINESS EVENTS
Botswana has joined the world in its search for the best approach to bring cash into the
newest growth industry, which is Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE).
For some time now, the Government has alluded to the need to position the country as a
gateway into business events, and the latest budget speech has reaffirmed Botswana’s
commitment to the MICE industry.
Above: President Dr
Mokgweetsi Masisi
delivering his keynote
speech during the official
opening ceremony of the
2nd FACETS diamond
conference in Gaborone
on 24 October 2023.
Antwerp World Diamond
Center (AWDC) chief
executive officer Ari Epstein
was present during the
ceremony among the
others. Image by Monirul
Bhuiyan.