Tourism Botswana
Tourism: The New Face of Botswana’s Economy An Analysis By: Stu Dent Submitted to the Desk of: Dr. Burton Date of Completion: Thursday, December 2, 1992
Country Profile Botswana, a landlocked county, in one of Africa’s best success stories. A struggling economy was given a new life as Botswana became one of the world’s leading producers in diamonds (BIDPA) and is currently viewed as a middle-income country. It is a country rich not only in natural resources, but in it’s wildlife and topography as well. Currently, Botswana has developed it’s tourism industry into one that caters for the luxury traveler; offering high-end safaris and lavish accommodations. However, Botswana’s two main economies are coming to a fork in the road and the ability to maintain the growth that their economy is experiencing will be directly determined by which path the country ultimately chooses.
The Dilemma Diamonds, in truth, are not forever and analysts predict that Botswana’s diamond reserve will be significantly diminished in twenty years. With the huge profits that diamonds bring, Botswana focused its attention on the diamond industry and as result the economies lack of diversification is apparent. Botswana now needs to tackle this issue while there is still time to savor the benefits of the diamond industry and begin making the necessary preparations for its eventual replacement. Tourism, it seems, is the natural step for the country to take, but it does come with its own challenges. Countries all over the world face a similar task; the struggle to find a balance between fostering a growing economy while both protecting and sustaining the environment. If Botswana choses to expand its tourism industry, there will be undeniable costs to the environment as it is the unique wildlife, their habitats included, that will be the main attraction. In short, it is progression of the economy versus the preservation
Country Profile Botswana, a landlocked county, in one of Africa’s best success stories. A struggling economy was given a new life as Botswana became one of the world’s leading producers in diamonds (BIDPA) and is currently viewed as a middle-income country. It is a country rich not only in natural resources, but in it’s wildlife and topography as well. Currently, Botswana has developed it’s tourism industry into one that caters for the luxury traveler; offering high-end safaris and lavish accommodations. However, Botswana’s two main economies are coming to a fork in the road and the ability to maintain the growth that their economy is experiencing will be directly determined by which path the country ultimately chooses.
The Dilemma Diamonds, in truth, are not forever and analysts predict that Botswana’s diamond reserve will be significantly diminished in twenty years. With the huge profits that diamonds bring, Botswana focused its attention on the diamond industry and as result the economies lack of diversification is apparent. Botswana now needs to tackle this issue while there is still time to savor the benefits of the diamond industry and begin making the necessary preparations for its eventual replacement. Tourism, it seems, is the natural step for the country to take, but it does come with its own challenges. Countries all over the world face a similar task; the struggle to find a balance between fostering a growing economy while both protecting and sustaining the environment. If Botswana choses to expand its tourism industry, there will be undeniable costs to the environment as it is the unique wildlife, their habitats included, that will be the main attraction. In short, it is progression of the economy versus the preservation