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

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Tourism <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Okavango Delta is directly dependent upon <strong>the</strong> utilisation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

region's <strong>natural</strong> <strong>resource</strong>s <strong>of</strong> wildlife, water and <strong>natural</strong> vegetation areas for <strong>the</strong><br />

<strong>in</strong>dustry. As such, <strong>tourism</strong> has <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>gly impacted upon <strong>the</strong> way, and degree<br />

to which, <strong>the</strong>se <strong>resource</strong>s are managed and utilised, hence be<strong>in</strong>g identified as a<br />

key factor effect<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> <strong>resource</strong> sector. If <strong>the</strong> Government <strong>of</strong> Botswana is to<br />

develop a <strong>tourism</strong> <strong>in</strong>dustry which fosters environmental and <strong>natural</strong> <strong>resource</strong><br />

preservation, ra<strong>the</strong>r than ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g a heavy dependence on limited and fragile<br />

<strong>resource</strong>s, a better understand<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> relationship between <strong>the</strong> two sectors is<br />

necessary. Enhanc<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> positive l<strong>in</strong>kages between <strong>tourism</strong> and <strong>natural</strong><br />

<strong>resource</strong> utilisation <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Okavango Delta region represents an important means<br />

to stimulate <strong>in</strong>creased <strong>natural</strong> <strong>resource</strong> and environmental protection, and<br />

improve <strong>the</strong> distribution <strong>of</strong> <strong>tourism</strong> benefits to rural communities.<br />

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