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

the country. As a result, it is assumed that the various changes that have been
effected in these two departments will help to promote the sustainable use of
Botswana's natural resources for commercial purposes (Mbaiwa, 2002).
The Botswana Government is in the process of establishing a National Tourism
Board, which will result in the decentralisation of tourism management. The main
benefit from this body is expected to be the provision of a more responsive and
commercially-minded organization for the development and promotion of tourism,
based on a closer partnership between the public and private sectors, as well as on
a wider range of stakeholders (DOT, 2000). The changes that have occurred in the
wildlife and tourism institutional framework in Botswana in the last two decades
indicate the recognition by government of the important role that wildlife and tourism
play in the economy of Botswana. Although the two departments have their
limitations and weaknesses, they have been able to provide management in the use
of natural resources for tourism purposes in the country (Mbaiwa, 2002).
8.3.2 Negative Environmental Impacts of Tourism
According to Ceballos-Lascurain (1996), there are direct and indirect impacts of
tourism in conserved or environmentally sensitive areas. Direct impacts are caused
by the presence of tourists while indirect impacts are caused by the infrastructure
that develops or is created to support the tourism industry. As a result, Ceballos­
Lascurain (1996) maintains that the negative impacts of tourism can only be
managed effectively if they have been identified, measured and evaluated. Once this
has been done, tailored management responses can be created.
With regards to the negative environmental impacts of tourism in the Okavango
Delta, the greater majority (39 or 62 percent) of the 63 tourist accommodation
managers interviewed between 2003 and 2004 felt that tourism was not having any
significant, negative impacts on the Okavango Delta's environment. The remaining
24 interviewees (38 percent) stated that tourism was having a negative
environmental impact on the Okavango Delta. Of the 24 managers that felt tourism
was negatively impacting upon the Delta, approximately 7 of them stated that some
of the tourist facilities in the area (not their own) were causing severe impacts on the
ecology of the areas surrounding their facilities. For example, some of the managers
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