On Thursday 15th November 2012 Botswana Accountancy College (BAC) held its inaugural Annual Tourism Seminar. The seminar, the first in what will become an annual event hosted by BAC in Gaborone, attracted a wide network of participants to discuss the seminar’s key theme: “Tourism and Climate Change.”
Executive Director of BAC Michael Lesolle says tourism has been identified by Botswana government as a critical skill area in the economy.
“It has also been targeted as a readily available economic diversification asset. At both the domestic and regional levels, tourism offers great opportunities for poverty alleviation. In fact, I can confidently say tourism has a significant potential to be the sustainable second largest contributor to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP); however, it faces a serious threat from climate change, and this is something that cannot go unnoticed.”
The seminar addressed issues such as the impact of industry activities on climate change, and how best to develop strategies for mitigating such impacts. Importantly, students and communities need to be enabled in their learning activities, to fully understand the wider perspectives of tourism and climate change.
Ultimately, the seminar’s aim was to promote a focused platform of deliberations on the issues surrounding climate change and its impact on tourism. It is a matter which is receiving a significant amount of attention on a global scale and therefore constantly in the minds of virtually all nations across the globe. Lesolle emphasised the importance of providing tourism students with the relevant skills to have a greater appreciation for and an understanding of the key factors offered by the BAC Tourism Management programme.
Richard Malesu of The National Tourism’s Office, a panellist speaking at the seminar, says they are equipping the youth to ensure they preserve out tourism sector to ensure our tourism industry and environments that accommodate the industry remain notable and sustainable.
“It is important that the Industry take steps to mitigate impacts of their operations on the climate. I have no doubt in my mind that the development of a niche in the business education field in tourism management at BAC will be a contributory factor to ensuring we tackle the challenges that come with this concern,” says Malesu.
The seminar brought together speakers from a wide industry spectrum including Masisi (Meteorological Services), Leshoai (Air Botswana), R. Malesu (National Tourism Office), Mazwi Mango, A. Kanego (Department of Tourism), Bruce Pagewood, P. Matshambane (FAS Car Rental) and T Chipfuva (Botswana Accountancy College). BAC students and staff were appropriately represented.
” This sort of forum is a ‘dipstick’ in the Botswana education sector. I am convinced that today’s seminar will propagate an even greater level of discourse amongst all the key stakeholders in order to determine the key success factors within the tourism sector value chain. The human capital and skills capacity building is pivotal in the value chain. We are excited to be a catalyst in such a programme and look forward to seeing it make a difference,” concludes Lesolle.