MAUN - Minister of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism, Mr Kitso Mokaila has called for the need for close monitoring of mobile tour operators due to the environmental impact of the business.

This is due to impending problems of the environmental degradation, which is a result of congestion, he told the Hospitality and Tourism Association of Botswana (HATAB) general meeting in Maun.

According to the minister, there is a possibility that his ministry would stop issuing mobile tour operator permits considering the carrying capacity of the national parks.

He urged that some mobile tour operators assessed their business and see how they could maximise on it, adding that he would do what ought to be done to protect the environment. I will not compromise the environment for tourism, he said.

Mr Mokaila said if the management plan that was carried out some years back failed to address the issues of today, he would set the plan aside and address the situation at hand.

According to Mr Mokaila, when the mobile tourism operators grow, the environmental impact increases. He added that the sector was less important compared to hotels and lodges industry as it employed fewer people.

For his part, the director of Wildlife and National Parks, Mr Trevor Mmopelwa said they were reviewing the departments response in regard to poaching.

He further told the meeting that there were complaints about exuberate princes at the expense of poor standards at the departments privatised lodges in some national parks.

He said his department was actively considering the negative feedback and would come up with strategies to address the problem. BOPA