Botswana has reserved 45 wilderness campsites for companies wholly-owned by its citizens in a bid to boost local participation in the tourism sector.
Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism spokesperson Onalenna Mokgachane said the campsites were located at some of Botswana's leading tourism destinations that include Khutse, Central Kgalagadi Game Reserves and Kgalagadi TransFrontier Park.
"The process of allocation of the campsites is at an advanced stage and evaluation of the bids will start soon," she was quoted as saying by Xinhua.
Botswana is also planning to open up forest reserves for tourism development, with sites identified for lodges, campsites and other tourism activities.
"70 per cent of the forest identified sites will be allocated to citizens and 100 per cent citizen-owned companies and consortia while 30 per cent will be available for open competition," Mokgachane said.
Tourism entrepreneurs in Botswana's North West District previously raised concerns over the short leases they are given to operate campsites in national parks compared to foreigners.
Foreign players allegedly hold leases of 15 up to 30 years backed by title deeds.
Botswana has remained Africa's best safari country with the Okavango Delta and the Kalahari Desert being the big drawcards for tourists.
Blogs
