Cultural Heritage Tourism: A Potential Adaptation Strategy to Climate Change in the Limpopo Basin: Case studies of Northeast and Bobirwa Districts - Botswana: AF42

by

NAOMI MOSWETE

BOTSWANAmoatshen@mopipi.ub.bw

Heritage tourism

it involves seeking an encounter with natives or feeling part of the history of a place. E.g. visitors to art galleries seek an encounter with beauty, uniqueness, authenticity and exclusiveness whilst visitors to museum are seeking discovery, novelty, diversity and knowledge (Hall, 1995).

cultural practices eg rainmaking rituals, storytelling, witchcraft etc

In its purest form, ecotourism

*minimises negative social, cultural and ecological impacts

Non consumptive eg photography, *empowers local communities in conservation and

management of natural and cultural resources. *brings economic benefits to local communities

and directs revenue to local people living in and around protected areas, and

*increases revenues for protected areas

Overview of Tourism in Botswana

2nd revenue earner after mining and contributes 5.8% to GDP

The rich wildlife and wilderness assets

Ranks high in wildlife resources in Southern Africa e.g. numbers and variety and less crowded parks

World class wilderness of the Kalahari desert

Botswana,s major tourism product

Wildlife

Wilderness

Okavango Delta

Tourism and Climate Change

Many areas of the Tourism industry rely on the climate, natural/semi-natural and cultural environment of a region to attract tourists.

Main objective

- to assess the extent to which cultural heritage tourism could become a possible adaptation strategy to climate change in the greater Limpopo Basin – Botswana

Case Study 1: Bobirwa Sub-District and The Tuli Block Area

Economic activity – focus on the growing of millet and sorghum, rearing cattle and goats

Phane caterpillar (lack of rain in 2002/2003) Arable land is scarce A larger proportion of the area is privately owned

(farms, private reserves, game farms) Recurrent droughts, which led to Fluctuations and decline of livestock in recent

years

Cattle trends in the case study areas

0

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40019

8319

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98Years

Cattl

e tre

nds (

000)

Kgatleng

Bobirwa

North-East

Changing Status of key Wildlife Species in the Kalahari from 1978 to 1994 (Perkins and Ringrose, 1996)

Species 1978 1994 Comments

wildebeest 315,058 17,934 drought, cattlepostexpansion

Hartebeest 293, 462 44,737 drought, cattlepostexpansion

Gemsbok 71,423 85,368 Confined toprotected areas

Eland 18, 832 11,757 Loss of habitat,hunting

Ostrich 92,286 27,744 Hunting, livecapture

Buffalo 72,290(1987)

29, 037 Habitat loss,hunting

Wildlife Resources in both study areas

- Decline & very Low Wildlife Resources in Communal Land

Increases & Fluctuations in Freehold Land

Available Ecotourism Resources: Natural and Cultural Resources in both study sites

Wildlife eg lions Variety of birds unspoilt landscape inimitable pebbles-

shiny and unique colour found in Bobonong

Limpopo River The unique natural

landscape Outback/Remoteness

Unique architecture History Lifestyle, language, religion The rich cultural heritage Traditional songs/music

and dances Art and music, Poetry,

folklore,Local food

Handicrafts traditional costumes Rock paintings

Unique Site in Moroka village

Ecotourism: Bobirwa Sub-District and The Tuli Block: The existing Tourism Resources and Activities

The Zebra dance troupe (women dancers) in Mathathane

The goat dogs in Lentswe – Le – Moriti (unique & a niche for the village)

Handicraft shelter built in Motlhabaneng (new) Lepokole Hills Project – Mapanda

Conservation Trust formed in 2001 with the help of KCS

Ecotourism: Bobirwa Sub-District and The Tuli Block: The existing Tourism Resources and Activities

Solomon’s Wall with rich history Unique rock outcrops/sandstone pedestals in

Lentswe – Le - Moriti Matshekge Hills (Natural Twin towers) Wildlife of Mashatu G. Reserve is diverse Mokolwane tree hyphaene petersiana Lodges and campsites Talana Farms & ancient farm houses and

implements, farm tourism

Who benefits most from tourism in your area?

Babirwa1%

Government

9%

Non-citizens

64%

None3%

No idea23%

Ownership of tourism related Enterprise – North East District

85%

5% 10%

citizen

non-citizen

joint venture

Level of Ecotourism/Tourism Awareness in the Bobirwa Sub-Dis

Response PercentageDon't know 44

People visiting 28

Not Applicable 21

Seeing Animals 6

Leisure Travel 1

Case Study 2: North East District and Francistown: existing Resources and activities

Rich cultural heritage resources Eg Domboshaba cultural valley Domboshaba Ruins Matanga cultural site Modumela ecolodge and game park Moroka Zezeru pottery (since the 1960 droughts) Mapoka Tjilenje Group Historic city of Francistown Supa Ngwao Museum

Visitor Statistics 1999 to 2002 : Supa - Ngwao Museum in Francistown

Highest numbers recorded in 1999 (2160)

1462 visitors recorded in 2002

With highest numbers recorded in August in all years - school recess 0

5001000150020002500

Visitors

1999 2000 2001 2002

Years

Visitor Trends to Domboshaba Ruins: July 1997 to 2002 (North East)

July to December 1997 = 267 visitors

Jan to Dec. 1998 = 741 visitors

Jan to Dec. 2002 = 2314 visitors

Growth with no marketing except WOM

No tourism related developments

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

Years

Visi

tor N

umbe

rs

Tourist numbers to Matsieng Cultural heritage Sites (1999 to 2001) in Kgatleng

BotswanaS.AfricaEuropeZimbabweAmericaOthers

Benefits (Northeast & Bobirwa-Tuli Block sites)

Employment opportunities eg 198 people employed in lodges, Campsites and game reserves in the Tuli area alone

Recreation facilities eg Supa ngwao museum, Domboshaba site, Modumela Lodge (camping, picnics, game drives),

Revival of local cultures and traditions (not significant)

Craft production (shelter in Motlhabaneg Accommodation (campsites to upmarket lodges) Conference facilities

Benefits (Northeast & Bobirwa-Tuli Block sites): Tourism related developments e.g

Limpopo Valley Airfield (Air Botswana, chartered flights Game Park (on-going dev.) in Francistown Game Farm (on – going dev.) between Tshesebe and

Mosojane Tourism Offices in Francistown and Selebi Phikwe - New

(marketing and promoting) Conservation initiatives (Wildlife, wilderness, cultural

assets )

Challenges?

Most tourist resources in eastern Botswana are underutilized eg in 1998, 75% international tourist visited the popular Okavango region whilst only 2.8% visited eastern part (BTDP,2000)

Short length of stay - Tourism awareness/ understanding - critical. Communities seem to place more value on

arts tourism (contemporary art production)

Challenges?

Lack of skilled manpower (project management, finance, bookkeeping, marketing etc

Lack of monetary resources (& skills to access funds)

divert focus from wildlife tourism to historic and other cultural related resources

A larger proportion of the land on the hands of - non- citizen

Lack of business spirit amongst the locals (Government handouts)

Travel, tourism and HIV/AIDS

Plans

More community workshops, meetings(info dissemination Tourism Awareness programs Training and introduction of CBT Assist communities to establish cultural village as part of

CBT Use GIS to map out tourism sites/attractions in the Limpopo

Basin –Botswana Produce promotional maps, brochures,videos of eastern

Botswana

,

Eco-Tourism in both Study sites:Opportunities

Development of holidays linked with culture and environment

Development of cultural products (myths, legends, stories, folklore)

Target regional, international & domestic tourists

Accessibility (SA, Namibia, Zimb.) Rigorous promotion of domestic tourism

Eco-Tourism in both Study sites:Opportunities

Preservation of cultural heritage resources eg provide package tours to heritage sites in the area eg Fort Motloutse, Majande Ruins, Domboshaba, Museums, monuments etc

Encourage the locals to build huts using available local material eg stones/rocks, grass/log and mud huts, modelled on traditional Babirwa and Kalanga architecture (small scale)

Has the potential to create employment, reduce poverty, and curb rural-urban migration

Thank Youubrigado

Ke a lebogaDankie

SiabongaAsante

Eco-Tourism in both Study sites:Opportunities

Share knowledge with tourists about their villages, cultural practices eg rainmaking rituals, storytelling, witchcraft etc

Raise awareness among locals of the benefits and opportunities that tourism can bring. especially among the youth

Visitor Numbers to Phuthadikobo Museum in Kgatleng

1.388492712Others

1.170163123America

2.3151235969Europe

0.63818812Zimbabwe

1.6108421452South Africa

936146218419482014Botswana

%Total200120001999Country oforigin

Source: Site Visit Record Book

Visitor Number to Phuthadikolo Museum (1999 – 2001)