This photo taken on September 10, 2023 shows a view of Gaborone, Botswana at dusk. (Xinhua/Li Yahui)
President Mokgweetsi Masisi said Botswana was ramping up marketing efforts to attract more Chinese tourists, adding that China's large population and growing interest in travel combined with China's middle class with significant purchasing power. He cited expansion.
GABORONE, April 28 (Xinhua) — Botswana is stepping up marketing efforts to attract more Chinese tourists, President Mokgweetsi Masisi said on Saturday.
Speaking at the official opening of the Motse wa Setso cultural festival in Botswana's second-largest city, Francistown, Masisi said that despite its many attractions for Chinese tourists, they rarely visit the southern African country. Ta.
“Botswana has a lot to offer Chinese tourists,” Masisi said at the cultural festival, whose name means “Cultural Village.”
Masisi said Botswana, through the Botswana Tourism Organization (BTO) under the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism, plans to welcome Chinese tourism professionals in the near future. Additionally, to promote Botswana as a desirable destination, the country is gearing up to participate in several business expos in China this year.
A white rhino drinks water at the Kamasai Reserve in Thamaga, Botswana, July 28, 2023. (Xinhua/Teng Junwei)
Mr Masisi highlighted Botswana's unique appeal, stressing that the country's abundant wildlife, diverse landscapes and rich culture set it apart from other tourist destinations.
According to Botswana's Bureau of Statistics, the country received 248,220 international tourists in the second quarter of 2022, with only 189 Chinese tourists.
Masisi emphasized that China has a large population, a growing interest in travel and a growing middle class with significant purchasing power. The increase in Chinese tourists to Botswana is expected to create further employment opportunities for the country's young population, which makes up 60 per cent of the estimated 2.3 million population. ■
