Familiar Chat

BIRDLIFE Botswana is on a mission to promote community interest in the welfare of birds. Education has been the primary method, but the potential for communities to raise money throughavi-tourismisnow being explored. Shougo Moroishi, our Jica (Japan International Cooperation Agency) volunteer and Virat Kootsositse, BirdLife’s Project Manager, recently attended the Tourism Expo – Indaba2014 and workshops organised by Jica on tourismissuesheld in Durban SA. • They had the opportunity to meet with people working on similar projects in other parts of southern Africa along with professional tour companies already runningbird safaris. • Interestingly, Virat and Shougo were the only delegates at the Indaba working for a conservationbased organisation. • They had the opportunity to learn from experts in community project development and marketing strategy. • Perhaps not surprisingly, the focus of the Jica workshops was the Japanese tourism market. However, our delegates found it difficult to make an impact on the tour companies, who failed to recognise the attractions of a holiday in Botswana. • BIRDLIFE will return next year even better prepared, as a result of knowledge gained this year! • Anyone interested in the Japanese attitude to tourism in Africa might be interested to read the 202 page document mentioned below. It is obviously an issue which has been given considerable thought! • OVERVIEW OF TOURISM TO AFRICA -with reference to the Asian and Japanese outbound markets • http:/ /www.tic ad.net/res ource/pdf/ Overview_of_Touris mto_Afric a_with_referenc e_to_the_As ian_and_Japanes e_outbound_markets.pdf • The delegation was sponsored by Jica and RETOSA (Regional Tourism Association of Southern