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

Table 6.31: Average Salaries of Tourism Employees in the Okavango Delta
According to Type of Work or Position (2001) (Pula)
Type of Employee
Average Monthly Salary
Waiters
Pula 550 - Pula 600
Cooks
Pula 700 - Pula 900
Bar Attendants Pula 500
Cleaners
Pula 500
Motor Boat Drivers Pula 1200
Mechanics
Maintenance Assistants Pula 850
Pula 2100 - Pula 2250
Trackers/Mekoro Polers Pula 650
Proferssional Guides Pula 2200 for locals; Pula 2400 for expatriates
Assistant Managers Pula 1200 for locals; Pula 4000 for expatriates
Managers Pula 8000+
Managing Directors Pula 18000+
Source: Adapted From Mbaiwa, 2002.
These findings are consistent with those of Ndubano (2000) who found that in a
sample of 50 citizens employed in the tourism sector in Maun, 33 of them earned
between Pula 300 and Pula 990. Almost two-thirds (62 percent) of the citizens
employed in tourism-related jobs in Maun earn much less than Pula 954.78, the
country's poverty datum level in 2000 (Mbaiwa, 2002).
These findings are also consistent with those of the Botswana Tourism Development
Programme (BTOP) consultants whose main focus was that of salaries in the
tourism industry at a national level. The BTOP notes that even though the
percentage of foreigners employed in the tourism industry is small (approximately
four percent in the hotel and lodge sectors), they dominate the better paying jobs
(BTOP, 1999). According to the BTOP, median salaries range from about Pula 500
per month for the lowest paid categories to around Pula 5000 per month for the
highest paid. Table 6.32 shows the basic salaries of management position and
'upper level' citizen and expatriate employees in the hotel, catering and tourism
sector in 1999. As can be seen from Table 6.32, expatriate salaries were/are
considerably higher than those paid to citizens in similar or comparable positions,
particularly for executive managers, general managers, food and beverage
managers, accommodation facility managers and professional guides. The
information in Table 6.32 also shows that the number of expatriate employees in
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