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As the Botswana government rumbles towards the lifting of the ban on hunting its famous wildlife, an authoritative poll in the United States, from which the second greatest number of foreign tourists come, has found overwhelming public disapproval of the plan.
As tourism is a mainstay of Botswana’s economy, lifting the hunting ban could, the poll suggests, have severe economic consequences and damage Botswana’s international reputation.
The US poll was conducted by the Remington Research Group for Humane Society International. Three in four respondents considered it important to protect elephants from trophy hunting, 78 percent did not support the proposed culling and 73 percent believed that if trophy hunting and elephants culls were started, Botswana’s image as a leader in wildlife conservation would be harmed.
The poll follows a Botswana cabinet committee recommendation in February to lift the hunting ban and start culling “surplus” elephants, despite the country’s known transboundary elephant population. The tourism industry and communities benefitting from photographic tourism have yet to be consulted despite claims of extensive consultation.
Tourism operators are expecting to be consulted. However, it seems that the decision has already been made as at a meeting in Gaberone.Botswana’s Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Conservation and Tourism, Kitso Mokaila, insisted that his country would go ahead with its decision on hunting.
“We will not back off and change our minds in terms of what we are going to do. As HATAB (Hospitality and Tourism Association of Botswana) you must remember where your bread is buttered and support us.”
Botswana banned trophy hunting in 2014. After the ban went into effect, the country became an increasingly popular tourist destination for travellers who want to support ecotourism and the country’s iconic wildlife.
In 2018, travel and tourism in Botswana experienced 3.4 percent growth, contributing $2.52bn or 13.4 percent to the country’s economy and supporting 84 000 jobs or 8.9 percent of the country’s total employment. Three quarters of tourist spend came from international travellers.
According to HSI, “with tourism now the second largest contributor to the country’s GDP and a significant employer, reinstating trophy hunting and starting elephant culls could hurt the country’s economy”. – AFP
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