The inaugural Okavango is Calling Cultural Festival has received a shot in the arm, with government pledging unwavering support to the event which was launched recently at a stakeholder meeting in Maun.
Okavango is Calling Festival is a brain child of events management, communications and marketing company Ghetto Urban Designs which has taken to promote issues of cultural heritage, tourism and the environment using the UNESCO’s 1000th World Heritage Site – Okavango Delta.
Okavango is Calling Festival will be held in Maun on September 28 this year.
Environment, natural resources, conservation and tourism permanent secretary Dr Oldman Koboto, who was guest speaker at the breakfast meeting, pledged government’s support for the event, saying it seeks to promote and connect Botswana, particularly the Okavango Delta with the world.
Koboto noted that that at the end of event that would have been supported by both government and the private sector, Botswana will become the sole beneficiary.
According to Koboto, the event is an opportunity that has presented itself for most stakeholders to support and invest in, for the realisation of their various mandates. Most important, and to the tourism sector is the increased product offering as it will enhance entertainment tourism.
“Take advantage of world heritage site around us, to broaden the tourism product offering,” he said.
A number of events are lined up, leading to the main event which will be held in September and will feature a number of international artists who will perform alongside some local artists.
Government, has so far partnered with the organisers through the Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO), and the department of national museums, and will support all the activations leading to the main event.
Other events lined up leading up to the main event on September 28 are Cocktail Boat Cruise on April 29 and an Arts and Exhibition Expo from July 24 to 25 at Nhabe Museum.
A number of parastatal and private companies also participated at the breakfast meeting, among them FNB, CEDA, LEA, Great Plains and Maun Helicopters, an indication the event may get the needed support after all.
Ghetto Urban Designs in 2018 launched a documentary about the Okavango Delta dubbed Okavango is calling, which documented the Okavango Delta for United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Meanwhile Koboto, also highlighted that the idea and concept of Okavango is Calling is a clear indication that Botswana may not need foreign marketing experts after all, but can use local ones. Koboto has further called on people to work towards patenting their products and ideas, such as the Okavango is Calling Festival to protect them from sabotage.
This will not the first event that Ghetto Urban Designs has conducted an event under the Okavango is Calling tagline. In 2018, they launched a documentary about the Okavango Delta dubbed Okavango is calling, which documented the Okavango Delta for United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
