The Hospitality and Tourism Association of Botswana (HATAB) has urged the government of the country to expedite action on stimulus package for the sector.
Botswana is no different from countries where tourism have been the most affected sector. The Private sector umbrella body HATAB believes that if Goverment does not come to the aid of the industry players and businesses the sector may take a nosedive.
HATAB submitted a COVID-19 Relief proposal to Government of which most of it was adopted into the National Economic Response announced on April 2, to mitigate the negative economic impacts of the pandemic.
In an interview with VoyagesAfriq, the CEO of HATAB Lily Rakorong said, the organisation through its mother body the Chamber of Commerce of Botswana is waiting for action from the proposal submitted to government.
‘’We are currently working on the Stimulus Package proposal through Business Botswana and as soon as the draft is adopted, we will share with you.
“Of course Tourism has been greatly affected and it is very important that it is provided with the necessary attention and interventions in order for it to bounce back, and most importantly to protect businesses as well as saving jobs’’ she said.
She wants the stimulus package not to just help with the recovery process but also serve as long term stability for the country’s tourism sector
The travel and tourism sector contributes 13.4% Botswana’s GDP.
