Business and Leisure Travel

Botswana is a natural for tourism development. This dynamic country that has maintained political and economic stability for more than three decades offers unique features like the unspoiled Okavango Delta, myriad types of wildlife, a wide range of ecotourism possibilities and varied opportunities for cultural tourism.

Varied attractions for travelers in search of something new

The only problem is making the world more aware of these attractions. As Tebelo Seretse, Botswana’s Minister of Trade, Industry, Wildlife and Tourism, points out, “What Botswana has to offer as far as tourism is concerned is far superior to what our neighbors offer. The problem with our tourism sector is that nobody knows about us. Our biggest challenge is therefore to market Botswana properly.”

Seretse adds that Botswana has determined to focus on quality rather than quantity in its tourism development and aims to increase its offerings for world travelers in search of something new in a safe and beautiful environment. Traveling executives can rely on a state-of-the-art telecommunications infrastructure and up-to-date business facilities and services.

One of the country’s top drawing cards is the Mokolodi Nature Reserve, located just 10 miles from Botswana’s capital, Gaborone. Dedicated to wildlife conservation and environmental education, the reserve is home to animal species indigenous to southeastern Botswana, including white rhinos, antelopes, cheetahs, giraffes and the hippopotamus. Mokolodi offers “up-close and personal” tourism activities, ranging from tracking rhinos with experienced rangers to mountainbike safaris in the bush.

As one of Africa’s most attractive destinations, tourism-related investment opportunities abound in Botswana.

Innisfree Apartments

“The Innisfree feels like a home away from home.”

Innisfree Apartments, opened in July 2000 as a project of Botswana Insurance Fund Management, offers luxurious long-term accommodations that combine the convenience of hotel living and the comforts of home. The apartment complex, located in Gaborone, is made up of 16 family suites, eight individual units and eight units with kitchenettes, featuring superior facilities and top-quality service. Plans are in the works to expand the successful Innisfree concept to other countries, such as Zambia and Malawi, in the near future.

Lindsey Jones, Corporate Branding Manager, explains, “We are planning to use the Gaborone complex as a model for our expansion. I really feel that we are offering a product to a niche market that has been completely ignored in the past.” The Innisfree’s 90 percent occupancy level, based on word-of-mouth advertising, speaks for itself. Residents enjoy the convenience of being able to park in front of their doors, not to mention being able to choose whether to prepare their own meals or order meals from Innisfree’s kitchen, where the staff prepares meals to suit clients’ individual tastes. The hotel’s garden setting and its clean, quiet facilities are other pluses. “Hotels feel like hotels, but the Innisfree feels like a home away from home,” Jones says. “This is the only way to live when on long business trips.” Jones predicts in the future, Innisfree Apartments will become a recognized brand name throughout southern Africa. The winning formula – “We offer a home environment with hotel service.”