Botswana Community Participation in Tourism

Tourism in Botswana, particularly in the Okavango Delta, is largely dependent upon wildlife. This leads to a consumption pattern that limits the meaningful participation of local communities in tourism, says Susan Keitumetse (Okavango Research Centre, University of Botswana). In her article, she argues that cultural tourism, in contrast, has potential to provide opportunities for local people because it is a product local communities identify with at most levels.

Using the example of the Sankuyo Tshwaragano Management Trust (STMT), which provides an example of a community that is prepared to engage in a cultural tourism project, she emphasizes that a sustainable development approach is needed. She stresses that tourists, as consumers of both natural and cultural heritage, also have the responsibility to demand cultural packages as a way of supporting local communities living around protected areas.