Tourism enterprenuers in Botswana’s Ngamiland (North West District) have raised concerns over the short leases they are given to operate camp sites in national parks compared to foreigners.
Foreign players allegedly hold leases of 15 up to 30 years backed by title deeds.
"In Botswana especially in North West we have what I normally call tourism politics where by whites are against blacks in this industry,” said Reaboka Mbulawa, the chief executive of Khwai, Lenyanti, Savuti and Kumaga Group of Camps.
“There is too much networking which segregates as to whether you are a citizen or non-citizen and it is quite difficult to penetrate such kind of network."
Mbulawa told the local media that for the past 10 years the local camp operators have been operating on cash basis as they are unable to access loans from banks.
“We have never had a minister who has been in the industry and knowing what has to be done,” he said.
“Some of the former tourism ministers were compromised as they had shares in some of the foreign companies that we are competing with."
Botswana recently maintained its grip in the number one spot as Africa’s best safari country.
The country’s Okavango Delta and the Kalahari Desert are big drawcards for tourists.
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