ecotourism in Botswana: 30 years later

Watema SetsibaDorothy Zulu

Oabona Moses Sello

definition of ecotourism

• Researchers, conservationists and tourism practitioners have created a nexus of confusion and fuzziness about the accurate definition of this concept paradoxically leading to uncongenial ambiguities by a plethora of globally marketed and propagandist statements (Morgan, 1999; Buchsbaum, 2004; Mbaiwa, 2015) .

Hector Ceballos-Lascurain "I am quite surprised and satisfied with the evolution of Ecotourism since I coined the term back in 1983. However, I am also concerned that the term has been variously abused and misused in many places."(International Ecotourism Monthly, 2006)

definitional consensus point’s to…

• Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people (Honey, 2008).

• Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people, and involves interpretation and education (TIES, 2015).

• Travelling to relatively uncontaminated natural areas with the objective of studying, admiring, and enjoying the scenery of its fauna and flora, and existing cultural manifestations (Ceballos-Lascurain, 1996).

the origins of ecotourism• 30 years ago, ecotourism became a buzzword among

conservation groups, tourism practitioners, and academia.• It was construed as a remedy for the protection of nature and

environmental conservation problems in the world (Mbaiwa, 2008)

• Many saw it as able to achieve conservation mainly because it has the potential to generate income to be ploughed back into biodiversity conservation as an alternative to eco-development.

• Eco-tourists were assumed to be educated individuals who easily become aware of the need to promote biodiversity conservation and improve rural livelihoods in host destinations.

30 yrs on: Still unanswered ?s• The evolution and adoption of ecotourism globally,

especially in developing countries, still raises several questions about its achievements;

1. How much has been achieved by ecotourism, particularly its goals of improved livelihoods and conservation in host tourism destinations?

2. Does ecotourism contributes towards conservation of threatened species and habitats or is it just a marketing ploy of the tourism industry?

3. Does ecotourism contributes to improved livelihoods in host destinations? (Kruger, 2005).

?s are also relative to BW because…

• Botswana is faced with environmental challenges that threaten its biodiversity, especially in wetland areas located on the northern system.

• For e.g.; growing pressure on water resources; degradation of rangeland; depletion of wood resources; exploitation of some rangeland products; pollution of air, water, soil, and vegetation resources; and wildlife depletion (DEA, 2008)

• Tourism, especially mass tourism, is one of the key nature-based tourism activities that threaten environmental conservation in Botswana (Mbaiwa, 2003; Darkoh & Mbaiwa, 2014)

• From the 1990s, Botswana adopted ecotourism to address challenges of natural resource degradation and livelihoods in tourism destination areas such as the Okavango Delta. However, 30 years on, ecotourism particularly in the Okavango Delta is not adequately analyzed.

okavango delta: a case study

Source: www.expertafrica.com

eco-benefit’s; 30 years on…

• Community trusts & ecotourism.• Profound support of ecotourism from locals.• Employment creation by the industry.• Financial opportunities exists.• Funding for social activities.• Accessibility to land for ecotourism activities.• Ecotourism & conservation of the delta.

nemesis of ecotourism in the delta

• Stiff competition from the established foreign enclave tourism businesses.

• Lack of entrepreneurial skills by local communities engaged in ecotourism.

• Misappropriation of funds by board members.• Unfair & unequal distribution of benefits

accrued there from.• Loss of jobs & revenue leakage.

Concluding remarks

• Ecotourism is a globally contested undertaking• It dates back as far as 30 years.• Premised on nature, conservation & culture.• Benefits & challenges coexist therein e.g. the success

stories of Khwai, Mababe & Sankoyo Trusts and conversely competition from enclave tourism.

NB: Ecotourism has achieved what it purports to in part, alas a lot has to be done on ecological conservation and cultural revival in destination areas.

references• Buchsbaum, B. D. (2004). Ecotourism and Sustainable Development in Costa Rica. Master’s

Dissertation: Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University.• Ceballos-Lascurain, H. (1996). Tourism, ecotourism, and protected areas: The state of nature-based

tourism around the world and guidelines for its development. Cambridge: IUCN.• Honey, M. (2008). Ecotourism and sustainable development: Who owns paradise? (2nd ed.).

Washington, DC: Island Press.• Kruger, O. (2005). The role of ecotourism in conservation: Panacea or pandora’s box? Biodiversity and

Conservation, 14, 579–600.• International Ecotourism Society. (2015). “What is ecotourism?”. Retrieved from www.ecotourism.org• International Ecotourism Monthly (October, 2006). “The ECOCLUB Interview with the 'Architect of

Ecotourism”. Retrieved from www.ecoclub.com• Mbaiwa, J. E. (2008). The realities of ecotourism impacts in Botswana. In Spancency, A. (Ed.), Responsible

tourism: Critical issues for conservation and development (pp. 205–224). London: Earthscan.• Mbaiwa, J. E. (2015). Ecotourism in Botswana: 30 tears later. Journal of Ecotourism. doi:

10.1080/147. Retrieved from www.tandfonline.com• Morgan, D. (1999). Ecotourism - Fad or Future for Tourism? Botanical Gardens Conservation

International. Retrieved from www.bgci.org