TOURISM

It is an economic activity that involves visiting places and provision of services to people in tourist
attractions. It is the movement of people from their places to other places for leisure.
Tourism can be classified into domestic and international.

Tourist- a person who travels away from his/her area for leisure, religion, holiday, business, study for
a limited period of time.

FACTORS INFLUENCING TOURISM DEVELOPMENT

• Climate: high temperatures and abundant sunshine, heavy down pour of rain of short duration
• Scenery: beautiful scenery with high mountains, rift valleys, deltas, wildlife
• Accessibility: air transport and roads to tourist centres
• Availability of accommodation: hotels, guest houses, camping sites
• Political stability
• Security and safety of the tourists is very important
• Promotions: marketing of the countries attractions and facilities. For example, through travel
offices and advertisement abroad in other countries.
• Beaches: good and attractive beaches with favourable conditions for aquatic sports
• Shops, restaurants, banks, entertainment

Inland tourism: it is visiting areas in the interior of the continents far from seas and oceans.

Characteristics/features of inland tourism

• National parks and game reserves
• Historical sites
• Wildlife
• Beautiful scenery
• Museums
• Cultural centres
• Crafts e.g pottery, baskets
• Waterfalls and rapids
• Rivers, pans, lakes, inland deltas
Examples of inland tourism centres
• Okavango delta- Botswana
• Kruger national park- South Africa
• Chobe national park- Botswana

Coastal tourism: tourism that takes place along the oceans and seas coasts.

Characteristics/features of coastal tourism

• Sandy beaches
• Coral reefs and islands
• Fishing
• Water sports

1
• Marine life
EXAMPLES OF COASTAL TOURISM CENTRES IN AFRICA
South Frica: Durban, Capetown

Main Attractions in the areas

• The ocean coastline
• Snady beaches
• Birds
• Casinos
• Hotels
• Water sports
• Marine life
• Wild animals
• Mountans e.g table mountain
• Clubs

TOURISM IN BOTSWANA

As a land locked country, Botswana practices inland tourism.

Map showing tourist attractions in Botswana

Tourists attraction in Botswana include:

• Game reserves and national parks (wildlife)
• Okavango delta

2
 • Tsodilo hills and gcwihaba caves
• Makgadikgadi salt pans
• Arts and crafts
• Museums
• Rivers
• Culture

IMPORTANCE/ADVANTAGES OF TOURISM
• Create employment
• Conservation of wildlife
• Stimulates development of infrastructure e.g roads, hospitals
• Encourages development of other industries e.g transportation, food and beverages
• Source of foreign exchange
• Preservation of local culture
• Promotes international cooperation

DISADVANTAGES/NEGATIVE EFFECTIVE OF TOURISM

• Leads to poaching
• Cultural erosion
• Leads to social ills such as drug trafficking, prostitution
• Spread of diseases e.g HIVAIDS
• Creates low paying jobs
• The jobs created are seasonal
• Extinction of plants and animal species
• Compromises national security

IMPACTS OF TOURISM ON THE ECONOMY OF BOTSWANA

POSITIVE
• Create jobs that has led to improved living standards
• Source of government revenue used to develop infrastructure
• Encourages development of infrastructure has led to improved service delivery
• Brings foreign exchange which is used to import goods from other countries
• Provides market to locally produced goods leading to growth of local industries
• Encourages development of other industries leading to a large industrial base and more jobs
• Diversifies the economy reducing reliance on mining

Negative
• Depletion of foreign exchange-Tourists demand luxury goods, as a result the foreign
exchange is used to import foods and beverages for tourists.
• Creates seasonal jobs, during off-peak period Batswana lose jobs

3
PROBLEMS FACED BY BOTSWANA IN TOURISM DEVELOPMENT
• Lack of capital
• Poor road conditions
• Competition from other countries
• Shortage of skilled manpower
• Limited participation of local people
• Poor air transport
• Fewer hotels
• Lack of accessibility
• Poor advertising
• Conflict with other land uses

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
• Financial assistance by government
• Build roads to link tourist attraction areas
• Manpower training of locals
• Development of airport and increasing airline to improve air transport
• Improve advertising
• Development of more hotels to provide accommodation
• Develop cheaper holiday packages
• Develop more tourist attractions
• Locals can borrow money from financial institutions to start businesses