we will conserve only what we love
we will love only what we understand
we will understand only what we're taught
Baba Dioum, Senegal

Sustainable tourism development is necessary because tourism as an economic activity is often in danger of destroying the resource base upon which it depends. An early writer about sustainable tourism, S.C. Plog, had this to say in 1974 about tourism: “tourism contains the seeds of its own destruction. Tourism can kill tourism, destroying the very environmental attractions which visitors come to a location to experience”. There is no doubt that tourism development in the Okavango Delta is beginning to threaten the environmental resources found in the area.

Threats that have so far been identified include: poor waste (solid and liquid) disposal, many trails and roads that destroy the aesthetic beauty of the wetland, noise pollution from boats, vehicles, aircrafts and human beings; the spread of invasive species like Salvinia Molesta; and the development of squatter settlements, particularly near safari camps and lodges. The destruction of tourism resources for short-term gain will prevent benefits from accruing to both hosts and tourists from the mobilization of the self-same resources in future. Host populations will lose in that they will be faced with environmental degradation which will affect their immediate prospects and will also be denied the tourism development potential that the environment offered in the past. Future generations of tourists will be denied the opportunity of experiencing environments very different to those of home.

This suggests that sustainable tourism development in the Okavango Delta is no longer an option but a requirement that needs to be observed by all tourism stakeholders in the wetland. Sustainable tourism development is possible if it meets three prime requirements, namely: the needs of host populations in terms of improved standards of living both in the short and long term; the demands of the growing numbers of tourists; and, that tourism should safeguard the environment. The failure of tourism development to meet these prime requirements or objectives renders the industry unsustainable and a threat not only to the environment but to potential benefits for both present and future generations.

The potentially destructive nature of tourism to environmental resources suggests that all stakeholders while benefiting from tourism development should at the same time not be jeopardizing chances for future generations to benefit from the same resources. Key stakeholders in tourism development in the Okavango Delta include: tourism operators, tourists, local communities, government and local communities. All these stakeholders should have specific roles and responsibilities in the wetland. For example, the participation of local communities in tourism development is an important aspect of sustainable tourism development.

 In the Okavango Delta, attempts are being made to promote local participation in the tourism industry through a programme known as the Community-Based Natural Resource Management programme. This programme aims at promoting rural development and natural resource conservation through the encouragement of local communities to establish tourism projects. So far, there are a number of CBNRM tourism projects in the Okavango which are owned and controlled by local communities.

Tourists also have a major role to play in promoting sustainable tourism development in the Okavango Delta. Sustainable tourism offers tourists prospects of a guaranteed level of satisfaction in a destination area. This means that the Okavango Delta should maintain its credibility and integrity, particularly its natural form, to continue attracting tourists. Consequently tourism operators should make tourists aware of the environmental conservation needs in the Okavango. They should encourage tourists to adopt environmentally friendly behaviour consistent with the Okavango ecosystem. Tourists should be taught the need to avoid behaviour like littering, creating illegal tracks and roads, feeding wild animals with human foods, illegal camping and so on.

Additional roles of safari operators can also include the encouraging their clients to respect the socio-cultural, economic and environmental needs in the Okavango. This suggests that environmental education can be made one of the components in development projects of safari companies. Tourism companies like EcoAfrica who promote photographic tourism companies in the Okavango Delta, believe in environmental education. As one of their slogans, they quote the words of Baba Dioum who said: “We will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand, we will understand only what we’re taught”.

An iconic safari company, Wilderness Safaris, operates and sponsors projects such as Children in the Wilderness-Botswana, which in 2006 took 24 streets kids to the Okavango. Using environmental education, therapeutic recreation, counselling, mentoring, 18 of these children were rehabilitated in 2006 and managed to return to school and consequently their future educational development chances are enhanced.

The role of government is that of facilitator of tourism development in the Okavango Delta. Government, through consensus with all tourism stakeholders, should prepare legislation that guarantees sustainable tourism development. Government together with tourism groups such as the Hotel and Hospitability Association of Botswana (HATAB) should ensure that environmental standards are designed and put in place for tourism companies and all stakeholders to observe. Such standards may include certification of all tourism operators and facilities in the Okavango. The idea should be the promotion of sustainable tourism development in the wetland.

In conclusion, it is necessary to recognize that sustainable tourism development in the Okavango Delta requires a symbiotic relationship between tourists, local people, and tour operators. All these groups stand to benefit from a healthier and sustainable environment. By working together, these stakeholders would be operating within the principles of sustainable development which guarantees both present and future generations to benefit from the same resources found in the Okavango Delta.

By Joseph Mbaiwa

Mr Bwaiwa holds an MSc in Environmental Science from the University of Botswana. He currently works at the Harry Oppenhemier Okavango Research Centre (HOORC) as Research Fellow in Tourism. HOORC is a research wing of the University of Botswana and is located in Maun, which is in the north-western part of the country. His work involves research on the impacts of tourism development in the Okavango Delta. The research is policy oriented in that it is meant to advise government and other stakeholders on how tourism management in the Okavango Delta can be carried out.