Botswana Tourists flocked to the North West
The venture by the North West Department of Tourism to market the province in the neighboring Botswana has grown enormously in the past eight years. The Batswana’s have now made the North West their second home as they visit and spend time in the province on holidays.
The good news were received with much appreciation by the Tourism MEC in the North West Desbo Mohono who led a campaign that was intended to promote the North West province as a preferred Tourism Destination, over the weekend.
The venture is reported to have injected millions of rands spend by Botswana Tourists in the province. The department together with its agency the North West Tourism Board took the opportunity to further promote the provincial programme of Villages, Townships and Small Dorpies. Patrons attending the events were introduced to guest houses and other tourism products based in the VTSD areas. Some were even offered free weekends away in most of those products.
The Marketing part was further extended to the Botswana Media houses, who have supported the venture over the years. Speaking during the activation, the chairperson of the North West Tourism Board David Mogashoa, hailed the support and the humidity displayed by the people of Botswana when visiting the North West province.
“For the past eight years since the commencement of this venture, many people from Botswana have had the opportunity of visiting our province and had more fun. We are also in the process of negotiating with Botswana Tourism who wants to send 40 young people to study in our hotel schools. That simply signals great partnership between the two tourism entities” said Mogashoa.
The Marketing which was done in Gaborone the capital was characterised by activities which included meetings with potential tourists, entertainment activities which featured South African and Botswana DJ and artists.
Welcoming the North West to the Marketing campaign was the Deputy High commissioner in Botswana Bulelwa Kiva, who also endorsed how the Tourism venture has contributed to the South African economy. Kiva assured the people of Botswana about the good relationship, more especially in terms of culture the two countries shared.
“The two countries boarders should not prevent us from sharing good practice. The people of Botswana and mostly of the North West are one people. The share the same culture, language and most of them relate as well,” said Commissioner Kiva.
MEC Desbo Mohono who was excited by the fruits the venture is bearing could not stop singing praises about the support and numbers of Botswana residents visiting the province. “Our mission and vision is to improve the North West Province from number seven to number four come the year 2020.
Now we have realised that in order for us to arrive to that point we need to establish treaties with neighbouring countries and of course Botswana is just a stone throw away. We have met with lot of product owners from Botswana and they acknowledge the fact that a lot still needs to be done in trying to come up with ways to improve the current status quo,” said Mohono.
“As a province we have also taken a route of luring tourists via events, now the three day engagements with Batswana will also see our Bokone Bophirima born artists performing against fellow Botswana artists. With the state of facilities we have and capability of hosting international events, the province has adopted events strategy which has thus far brought numbers to our province,” she said.
The marketing campaign was further graced by renowned artists and DJ’s like: Mo-Molemi, Tuks, Bonolo, Khuli Chana, D-Mos, Kay Bee, Stoane Seate, and many more others.
Tourism product owners across the four districts of the North West were also invited to promote their products. Products include Guest houses, Hotels, resorts and many other products that can be visited when visiting the province.
The promotion of Destination North West and A re yeng Bokone Bophirima brand which continued for three days in the Botswana Capital, Gaborone was lead by the MEC, Head of Department Neo Sephoti, Tourism Board chairperson and CEO, Tourism officials from local and district municipalities product owners and many other from the Tourism sector in the province.
For enquiries:
Dineo Lolokwane
Tel: 018 388 2081
Cell: 072 542 8444
E-mail: dlolokwane@nwpg.gov.za
