A world biggest tourism organization World Travel and Tourism Council predictions about the increase on tourists arrivals is not showing any good signs about their predictions as some tour operators have not benefitted yet from the windfall as tourism sector transcend into a tourism peak season..
It is not yet too late for the WTTC predictions to show good signs according to University of Botswana Okavango Research Centre as it is evident that with peace and serenity tourists have continuously chosen Botswana as a holiday destination.
WTO predictions that the country will have an increase on tourists arrivals has not yet borne fruits for Go Beyond Safari and Lorge which operates game tours in Moremi,Chobe,Makgadikgadi and Central Kalahari Game Reserve.
“ We have so far secured two groups of tourists who comes from abroad. Usually when we approach tourism peak season we are sure about five to six bookings but not this time around. We don’t have to despair as you have indicated that there are good times ahead. May be we will benefit from the windfall,”added Go Beyond Safari ,Reservationist Melly Mogata .
Magata also admits that they have challenges when it comes to running their business which came to eistance in 2016.
According to him the low booking could be due to those challenges since the company is trying all its best to adapt to ever changing sector . However the Univesrity of Botswana Okavaango Rsearch Center ,Director Joseph Mbaiwa is optimistic that tourists arrivals will keep increasing as it has been evident in the past that international tourists preffered the country as a destination of choice .
Mbaiwa supported the WTO predictioss that the arrival of tourissts will also benefit the country since tourism was the second largest earner. ‘’ It is a given that tourist prefer Botswana as a peaceful country and tourists will continue coming to Botswana,”addded Mbaiwa .
According to WTTC the direct contribution of Travel and Tourism to GDP is expected to rise by 5.8% to BWP7, 541,8million in 2018 from the direct contribution of Travel & Tourism to GDP in 2017 which stood at BWP7,129.6mn (3.8% of GDP) as result of tourists arrivals .
It further state this primarily reflects the economic activity generated by industries such as hotels, travel agents, airlines and other passenger transportation,services (excluding commuter services), restaurant and leisure industries.
The WTTC further state that the Travel & Tourism generated 26,000 jobs directly in 2017 (2.6% of total employment) and this is forecast to grow by 4.3% in 2018 to 27,000 (excluding commuter services). It also includes, for example, the activities of the restaurant and leisure industries directly supported by tourists.
The WTTC also stated that by 2028, Travel & Tourism will account for 42,000 jobs directly, an increase of 4.5% pa over the next ten years.
