Title: Cultural Heritage Tourism: A Potential Adaptation Strategy to Climate Change in the Limpopo Basin: Case studies of Northeast and Bobirwa Districts - Botswana: AF42
1Cultural Heritage Tourism A Potential Adaptation
Strategy to Climate Change in the Limpopo Basin
Case studies of Northeast and Bobirwa Districts -
Botswana AF42
2Heritage 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
3In 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
4Overview 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
5Botswana,s major tourism product
- Wildlife
- Wilderness
- Okavango Delta
6Tourism 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.
7Main 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
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9Case 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
10Cattle trends in the case study areas
11Changing Status of key Wildlife Species in the
Kalahari from 1978 to 1994 (Perkins and Ringrose,
1996)
12Wildlife Resources in both study areas
- Decline very Low Wildlife Resources in
Communal Land - Increases Fluctuations in Freehold Land
13Available Ecotourism Resources Natural and
Cultural Resources in both study sites
- 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
- 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
14Unique Site in Moroka village
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17Ecotourism 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
18Ecotourism Bobirwa Sub-District and The Tuli
Block The existing Tourism Resources and
Activities
- Solomons 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
19Who benefits most from tourism in your area?
20Ownership of tourism related Enterprise North
East District
21Level of Ecotourism/Tourism Awareness in the
Bobirwa Sub-Dis
22Case 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
23Visitor 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
24Visitor 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
25Tourist numbers to Matsieng Cultural heritage
Sites (1999 to 2001) in Kgatleng
26Benefits (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
27Benefits (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 ) -
28Challenges?
- 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)
29Challenges?
- 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
30Plans
- 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 - ,
31Eco-Tourism in both Study sitesOpportunities
- ?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
32Eco-Tourism in both Study sitesOpportunities
- 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
33- Thank You
- ubrigado
- Ke a leboga
- Dankie
- Siabonga
- Asante
34 Eco-Tourism in both Study sitesOpportunities
- 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
35Visitor Numbers to Phuthadikobo Museum in Kgatleng