“WE WANT NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC BOTSWANA”- MASISI

President Dr. Mokgweetsi Masisi has gone to all length to get Botswana’s tourism sector on the map.

“We want National Geographic Botswana”, said President Masisi as he stated that he doesn’t want Botswana on the side-lines of tourism but to be featured as much as possible on tourism documentaries and to soak in the tourism wealth.

He further called for closer association and collaboration with local research and development institutions such as University of Botswana and Okavango Research Institute. He outstretched to National Geographic to partner with Okavango Diamond Company for with local on future films adding that a lot could be achieved by using Batswana.

“I cannot think of any country on the continent that sticks to values of conservation and environmental stewardship. I do not know any country in the world that has reserved close to 40 per cent of its landmass to conservation. These are important attributes that point to us,” President Masisi said.

The National Geographic chief executive officer, Ms Jill Tiefenthaler said the organisation was committed to working with Batswana to build capacity in storytelling and education. She further said they so far have contributed by sponsoring Batswana in tourism business undertakings, community development and skills transfer.

She promised that the organisation would look into localising National Geographic through collaboration with government and local institutions.