Botswana

Project/Location
Botswana's tourism attractions
primarily rely upon its wildlife in the
northern part of the country,
namely Moremi Game Reserve and
Chobe National Park. While these
areas will continue to be popular,
there are growing numbers of
tourists and potential visitors
seeking a greater choice of
settings, together with a diversity
of special activities.

John Robinson was commissioned
by the World Tourism Organization
to prepare a framework for
Southern Botswana, highlighting
the development of non wildlife
based tourism.

The Kalahari Wilderness Trail: One
of the key proposals is the Kalahari
Wilderness Trail. The concept is to
market the Kalahari (as something
very special) while opening up
opportunities for communities to
benefit from passing trade. The
Trail will be a truly exclusive
experience in the wilderness -
something that is becoming
increasingly rare in the world
today.

Client
World Tourism Organization.
United Nations Development
Programme.
Government of Botswana

Project Description
The development concept put
forward aims to integrate the
northern tourism region with
Southern Botswana, including five
Tourism Development Areas:
1. Gaborone and Surrounds
2. The East
3. The Pans
4. Central Kalahari
5. Southern Kalahari

Detailed plans were prepared for
these areas, supported by a series
of project briefs to help guide the
development process. The plans
take into account a broad range of
issues directly effecting, not only
the physical capabilities of the
region, together with the marketing
and economic rationale behind site
and product development
recommendations, but also the
mechanisms for implementation.

The proposals recognise that
tourism is a business and primarily
an area of private sector activity.
Community based tourism
development must therefore be
commercially viable if it is to be
sustainable.