The economic contribution of tourism to local communities: The case of Khumaga and Moreomaoto villages, Botswana

Abstract

Tourism is one of the fastest growing industries worldwide, and its economic significance cannot be overestimated, especially in a country like Botswana. Botswana is one of the prime tourist destinations in Africa, with several tourist attractions such as the Boteti River sub-basin, one of the numerous ephemeral river sub-basins found in the country. However, there is a paucity of empirical research on how tourism improves the livelihoods of the communities in the Boteti sub-District. The main objective of this paper is to compare the contribution of tourism to household income relative to other livelihood activities in the Boteti Sub-District. The paper further identifies factors that affect the contribution of tourism to the household economy in the region. This study was conducted in two villages, namely, Khumaga and Moreomaoto in the Boteti Sub-District. The results show that on average tourism related activities contribute as little as P2076.82 (about USD 200) annually to individual households in rural Boteti. The study further shows that government assistance, Ipelegeng, remittances, livestock and crop production are important sources of household income in the region. Negative attitudes towards tourism, limited education and fewer tourism facilities are some of the factors that explain the low contribution of tourism to household incomes in the area. The study recommends that the 1990 Tourism Policy be reviewed in order to design favourable, relevant and appropriate ways through which the contribution of tourism to households in tourism hubs could be enhanced.