11 Sep 2019

Miss Tourism International Botswana, Abigail Jansen is set to compete for the world finale scheduled for November 8 in Malaysia.

Local pageant organiser of the Miss Tourism International and founder of Culture and Heritage Botswana Pageant Trust, Milicent Shunda said the reigning queen would compete for the

Miss Tourism International crown with other queens from 80 countries around the world.

Speaking in an interview, Shunda highlighted that by taking part in one of the most prestigious and largest pageant competitions, they would be exporting and promoting Botswana culture and tourism.

Miss Tourism International 2019 will be held under the theme: Embracing beauty, welcoming cultural diversity, and she said the theme did not only focus on the promotion of cultural knowledge, but also enhancement of mutual understanding, unity in diversity and social cohesion between and among communities.

Shunda said their participation at the competition signified that beauty pageants could also be exported to diversify other avenues of export.

She said Botswana had been perceived as a peaceful and stable country with positive developments such as the ones brought by tourism.

“Entry to this pageant will export and promote Botswana culture and make the country even more well-known. Botswana has an excellent brand internationally already based on the country’s peaceful and successful development,” she said.

Shunda said it was not the first time they had been invited to take part in the world beauty pageants, and that they had committed not to miss the opportunity like the past years were they were not able due to lack of funds.

Though the competition is set for November, the pageant organiser pleaded with the public to assist them to make the trip possible.

“It will be a painful experience if we missed another chance that can possibly be a shot towards being crowned the World Miss Tourism International due to lack of funds,” added Shunda.

Meanwhile, Miss Tourism International Botswana 2019, Abigail Jansen said she was excited and more than ready to participate at the world pageant. ENDS