Cultural Heritage Tourism: A Potential Adaptation Strategy to Climate Change in the Limpopo Basin: Case studies of Northeast and Bobirwa Districts Botswana: AF42 by NAOMI MOSWETE BOTSWANA [email protected] Heritage 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 storytelling, witchcraft etc rainmaking rituals, In 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 Overview 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 Botswana,s major tourism product  Wildlife  Wilderness  Okavango Delta Tourism and Climate Change  Many areas of the Tourism industry rely on the climate, natural/seminatural and cultural environment of a region to attract tourists. Main 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 - Case 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 Cattle trends in the case study areas 400 350 250 Kgatleng 200 Bobirwa 150 North-East 100 50 0 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1990 1993 1995 1996 1997 1998 Cattle trends (000) 300 Years Changing Status of key Wildlife Species in the Kalahari from 1978 to 1994 (Perkins and Ringrose, 1996) Species 1978 1994 Comments wildebeest 315,058 17,934 Hartebeest 293, 462 44,737 Gemsbok 71,423 85,368 Eland 18, 832 11,757 Ostrich 92,286 27,744 Buffalo 72,290 (1987) 29, 037 drought, cattlepost expansion drought, cattlepost expansion Confined to protected areas Loss of habitat, hunting Hunting, live capture Habitat loss, hunting Wildlife Resources in both study areas - Decline & very Low Wildlife Resources in Communal Land Increases & Fluctuations in Freehold Land Available Ecotourism Resources: Natural and Cultural Resources in both study sites        Wildlife eg lions Variety of birds unspoilt landscape inimitable pebblesshiny and unique colour found in Bobonong Limpopo River The unique natural landscape Outback/Remoteness          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 Unique Site in Moroka village Ecotourism: 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 Ecotourism: Bobirwa Sub-District and The Tuli Block: The existing Tourism Resources and Activities        Solomon’s 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 Who benefits most from tourism in your area? Babirwa 1% No idea 23% Governme nt 9% None 3% Noncitizens 64% Ownership of tourism related Enterprise – North East District 5% 10% citizen non-citizen joint venture 85% Level of Ecotourism/Tourism Awareness in the Bobirwa Sub-Dis Response Don't know Percentage 44 People visiting 28 Not Applicable 21 Seeing Animals 6 Leisure Travel 1 Case 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 Visitor Statistics 1999 to 2002 : Supa Ngwao Museum in Francistown  2500 2000 Visitors  1500  1000 500 0 1999 2000 2001 Years 2002 Highest numbers recorded in 1999 (2160) 1462 visitors recorded in 2002 With highest numbers recorded in August in all years - school recess Visitor Trends to Domboshaba Ruins: July 1997 to 2002 (North East)  2500  Visitor Numbers 2000 1500  1000  500 0 1997 1998 1999 2000 Years 2001 2002  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 Tourist numbers to Matsieng Cultural heritage Sites (1999 to 2001) in Kgatleng Botswana S.Africa Europe Zimbabwe America Others Benefits (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 Benefits (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 ) Challenges?     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) Challenges?       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 Plans        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 , Eco-Tourism in both Study sites:Opportunities 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 Eco-Tourism in both Study sites:Opportunities  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  Thank You ubrigado Ke a leboga Dankie Siabonga Asante Eco-Tourism in both Study sites:Opportunities  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 Visitor Numbers to Phuthadikobo Museum in Kgatleng Visitor Number to Phuthadikolo Museum (1999 – 2001) Country of origin Botswana 1999 2000 2001 Total % 2014 1948 2184 6146 93 South Africa 52 14 42 108 1.6 Zimbabwe 12 8 18 38 0.6 Europe 69 59 23 151 2.3 America 23 31 16 70 1.1 Others 12 27 49 88 1.3 Source: Site Visit Record Book