{{Short description|Botswana tourism initiative}} {{Infobox event | date = {{start and end dates|2020|07|27|2020|08|22}} | duration = {{time interval|2020-07-27|2020-08-22|options}} | type = Tourism campaign | organizers = {{ubl|Thalefang Charles|Sonny Serite}} }}
'''Rediscover Botswana''' was a domestic tourism campaign that ran in Botswana from July 27 to August 22, 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |title=REDISCOVER BOTSWANA CAMPAIGN KICKOFF. |url=https://dailynews.gov.bw/news-detail/57424}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=UNPLUGGED |first=BOTSWANA |date=2020-08-28 |title=The Re-Discover Botswana tourism campaign lauded |url=https://furtherafrica.com/2020/08/28/the-re-discover-botswana-tourism-campaign-lauded/ |access-date=2023-12-17 |website=FurtherAfrica |language=en-GB}}</ref> It encompassed an 8,000-kilometer (5,000-mile) tour across various tourist attractions in Botswana. The event was organised and hosted by media personalities Thalefang Charles and Sonny Serite, and it was sponsored by the Botswana Tourism Organisation with support from several tourism associations.<ref name="dailynews">{{Cite web |last=Ntakhwana |first=Omphile |date=2020-07-28 |title=Rediscover Botswana campaign kickoff |url=https://dailynews.gov.bw/news-detail/57424 |access-date=2023-01-27 |website=Daily News Botswana}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-08-28 |title=The Re-Discover Botswana tourism campaign lauded |url=https://furtherafrica.com/2020/08/28/the-re-discover-botswana-tourism-campaign-lauded/ |access-date=2023-01-27 |website=FurtherAfrica |language=en-GB}}</ref> The tour began at the Matsieng Footprints and ended at the Dikgosi monuments in Gaborone.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-10-08 |title=Domestic Tourism Is Boosting The Recovery of Botswana Tourism Industry |url=https://travelinn.life/travel-blog/domestic-tourism-is-boosting-the-recovery-of-botswana-tourism-industry |access-date=2023-01-27 |website=Travel Inn Magazine}}</ref> Sites were selected to demonstrate diversity among tourist destinations, including "national parks, heritage sites, cultural offerings, and other sites" at various budgets.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Stone |first1=Lesego S. |last2=Stone |first2=Moren T. |last3=Mogomotsi |first3=Patricia K. |last4=Mogomotsi |first4=Goemeone E.J. |date=2021-06-07 |title=The Impacts of Covid-19 on Nature-based Tourism in Botswana: Implications for Community Development |journal=Tourism Review International |language=en |volume=25 |issue=2 |pages=274 |doi=10.3727/154427221X16098837279958 |s2cid=234268223 |issn=1544-2721|doi-access=free }}</ref>
Rediscover Botswana was carried out in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting decline of international tourism.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=C. Anyanwu |first1=Anyanwu |last2=O. Salami |first2=Adeleke |title=The impact of COVID-19 on African economies: An introduction |journal= African Development Review|date=2021 |volume=33 |issue=Suppl 1 |pages=S1–S16 |doi=10.1111/1467-8268.12531 |pmid=34149237 |pmc=8207010 }}</ref> It was intended to spread awareness of notable places in Botswana and educate citizens about how to best travel domestically.<ref name="dailynews"/> Tourism has been a significant aspect of the Botswana economy prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Rediscover Botswana campaign sought to prevent some of the financial losses associated with the decline in tourism.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-08-26 |title=Rediscover Botswana gains momentum |url=https://travelnews.africa/news-single.html?id=4334&title=Rediscover+Botswana+gains+momentum |access-date=2023-01-27 |website=travelnews.africa |language=en}}</ref> The campaign was well received and is believed to have contributed to domestic tourist bookings.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Hambira |first1=Wame L. |last2=Stone |first2=Lesego S. |last3=Pagiwa |first3=Vincent |date=2022-01-02 |title=Botswana nature-based tourism and COVID-19: transformational implications for the future |url=https://doi.org/10.1080/0376835X.2021.1955661 |journal=Development Southern Africa |volume=39 |issue=1 |pages=51–67 |doi=10.1080/0376835X.2021.1955661 |s2cid=238795639 |issn=0376-835X|doi-access= |url-access=subscription }}</ref>
Charles listed the most significant visits of the tour as the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, the Gcwihaba caves, the Boro and Thamalakane rivers, AfroBotho, the Moremi Game Reserve, and the Makgadikgadi Pan.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Charles |first=Thalefang |date=2020-08-28 |title=The best of Rediscover Botswana |url=https://www.mmegi.bw/features/the-best-of-rediscover-botswana/news |access-date=2023-01-27 |website=Mmegi Online |language=en}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
Category:2020 in Botswana Category:Economic history of Botswana Category:Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tourism Category:Tourism campaigns Category:Tourism in Botswana
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