A report submitted recently to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) by the Ministry of the Environment and Tourism indicates that there has been a sharp increase in collection of revenue from various sources.
Presented by the Permanent Secretary, Thato Raphaka, the report indicates that for the financial year 2022/2023, the revenue collected was P40,309,880 but “the actual collection was P136,564,339, which was a net over-collection of P96,254,459 (240 percent)”. “The increase is associated with provision POS at the national parks for collection of entry fees, increased park fees as well as the modest recovery of the tourism sector,” says the report.
Under-collection
In 2020/2021, the ministry collected P11,822,429.000 in revenue against a target of P80,720,310, which was a net under-collection of P68,897,881.00, (84.5 percent).
“The major revenue stream for the Ministry are tourism activities which were adversely affected by closure of most establishments due to COVID-19 pandemic.” The report says for the financial year 2021/2022, revenue collection was estimated at P66,763,060 and the actual collection P36, 491, 836. Therefore, there was a net under-collection at national park entry fees.
Ivory stockpiles
Significantly, the report indicates that conservation initiatives and generation of revenue from wildlife resources are frustrated by prohibition on international trade in ivory, especially through decisions and resolutions of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES).
“Botswana continues to stockpile ivory which could otherwise benefit wildlife conservation and the citizenry,” the report points out. “The ministry continued to engage regionally and internationally to find solutions to resolve this impasse.” Another notable point in the report is that the number of citizens participating in the tourism industry has increased steadily. “As of April 2023, there were 3,096 licensed tourist enterprises, out of which 2,518 are citizen-owned, 295 are non-citizens and 283 are joint ventures,” it says.
Community outreach
It notes that the number of citizen-owned enterprises has been increasing over the years owing to increased community outreach initiatives aimed at sensitising people on tourism opportunities.
The report states that as part of initiatives aimed at diversifying tourism, the government is opening up of some protected areas for allocation of campsites to Batswana, promoting agro-tourism, encouraging keeping game in masimo and promoting events through Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism.
“To this end, the ministry is currently developing the MICE strategy with the aim to guide and ensure diversified structured product offering and optimisation of the value chain through the promotion of MICE tourism in the country,” it says.
CBNRM Bill
On other issues, the report says a Community-Based Natural Resources Management Bill aimed at providing a framework within which communities operate while keeping regulatory requirements in check and providing clarity on standards and accountability to beneficiaries has been drafted.
“Consultations have been completed with (the) Technical Advisory Committee and Community-Based Organisations (CBOS) around the country and it is expected that the bill will be submitted for consideration of Parliament in November 2023,” the report says. It says some of the existing CBOs have been riddled with problems of corporate governance, mismanagement of funds and lack of accountability to their respective communities.
Kalahari Transfrontier Park
It states that the ministry, in collaboration with local authorities, NGOs, development partners and the private sector, continues to mobilise communities to play an active role in conservation of natural resources.
During the 2022/2023 financial year, the ministry initiated development of Khuis Tourism Park, resuscitation of the Phuduhudu Cultural Village, development of an a gate to the Central Kalahari Game Reserve through Tsetseng, a community campsite in Khawa, development of an entrance gate to the Kalahari Transfrontier Park (KTP) approximately 30kms from Khawa, and refurbishment of five camping grounds in the Kgalagadi North region.
