the role of tourism in natural resource management in the okavango ...

However, on closer examination, the negative effects often appear to outweigh the
benefits (Torres, 1996). Some of the most common negative impacts include the
destruction of natural environments, vegetation damage, water pollution, soil erosion
and the silting up of water-ways (Pattullo, 1996; Holden, 2000; Ghimire, 2001);
creation of competition for land and labour resources (Bryden, 1973; Van Der
Straaten, 2000; Smith, 2003); loss of access to natural areas; inflation of land values
(Belisle, 1984; Shaw and Williams, 2004; Sharpley, 2005); abandonment of
traditional subsistence strategies and rural-urban migration (Adams, 1992; Ghimire,
2001; Smith, 2003); changes in consumption patterns and inflated food prices
(Belisle, 1984; Ghimire, 2001; Smith, 2003); poaching (Pattullo, 1996;); destruction
of wildlife through habitat loss and fragmentation, the deterioration of the natural
resource base and the maldistribution of tourism benefits (Smith and Eadington,
1992; Holden, 2000; Sharpley, 2005).
Any form of commercial development will bring with it impacts upon the social,
economic and physical environment. Due to the fact that tourists have to visit the
place of production in order to consume the output, tourism clearly leads to such
impacts (Cooper et aI, 1993). It is therefore critical that careful planning is
undertaken before and during the tourism development process.
Since independence in 1966, the Government of Botswana has been determined to
promote economic development as a means of improving the quality of life and living
standards of its people. Botswana's Current National Development Plan (NDP9)
(2003/04 - 2008/09) identifies several natural resources on which the economy of
the country is based: vast cattle ranges, a variety of presently exploited or potentially
useful minerals, and rich natural areas and wildlife habitats on which the tourism
industry is based. Botswana contains significant open rangeland and some of the
last great populations of wild animals in Africa. According to the NDP, Cl •••they (the
wildlife) represents a tourist attraction that has yet to be fully exploited. Meanwhile,
and more importantly, they make a contribution to the subsistence economy of the
country" (http://www.lead.org ...htm. 2003).
The Government of Botswana is grappling with the task of developing a tourism
policy that will maximize its goals of rural job creation, revenue generation from
foreign exchange, conserve and protect wildlife, and be compatible with the cultural
3