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

evenue collection from the various fees charged at Maun Airport and the Moremi
Game Reserve.
6.4.3 Creation of Employment
One of the most important economic impacts of tourism in the Okavango Delta is its
potential to create employment for the local population. The extent to which
employment is created is, however, influenced by the degree of linkages between
tourism and other sectors of the economy. There are a total of 85 permanent hotels,
lodges and safari camps in the Okavango Delta, and up to an estimated 45 non­
permanent safari camps in the area. According to the questionnaires completed by
the managers of hotels, lodges and safari camps in the Okavango Delta, these
facilities generally hire, on average, anything between five and sixty black Motswana
staff members, including waitrons, grounds people, cleaners, tour guides, boat
operators, drivers, cooks, kitchen staff, etc. (Table 6.28).
Table 6.28: Approximate Employment Figures for Interviewed Hotels, Lodges
and Safari Camps in the Okavango Delta (2003/2004)
Employee Type Permanent Emplyees Seasonal Employees Total
Waitron 400 90 490
Grounds Person/Gardener 480 40 520
Cleaner 500 50 550
Tour Guide/Boat Operator/Driver 200 150 350
Kitchenstaff/Cook 400 100 500
Total 1980 430 2410
A similar survey was conducted by Scout Wilson Consultants in April 2001, on the
employment figures of the various safari camps and lodges in the Okavango Delta.
Their findings indicated that a total of 735 people were employed in 20 safari camps
and lodges in the Delta. This means that, according to their figures, a total of
approximately 3000 people would be employed in the 85 permanent hotels, lodges
and safari camps in the Okavango area, which is around 34 percent of the formal
employment in the tourism sector in Botswana.
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