Botswana sets ambitious tourism targets to drive sector growth
Larona Makhaiza | Wednesday April 29, 2026 06:00
Speaking at the 41st annual Hospitality and Tourism Association of Botswana (HATAB) conference in Maun last week, Minister of Environment and Tourism Wynter Mmolotsi said tourism has been identified as a key pillar under the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme (BETP).
Mmolotsi said under BETP, Botswana aims to increase tourist arrivals to 2.7 million by 2033, extend the average length of stay from the current 4.9 nights to 7.9 nights, and make tourism the number one contributor to Gross Domestic Product by 2030.
“These are not merely targets on paper. They are a statement of intent. They speak to the kind of tourism economy we are determined to build; one that is more diverse, more inclusive, more geographically spread, and more resilient,” Mmolotsi said.
He said Botswana’s traditional high-value, low-volume tourism model had preserved the country’s biodiversity and exclusivity, but warned that changing market trends, climate change, and growing competition demand a shift in strategy.
A recent diagnostic study undertaken by the World Bank found that Botswana remains heavily dependent on high-end wildlife tourism, whilst diversification has been slow. The report also highlighted weak infrastructure, cumbersome land allocation processes, and lengthy environmental approval systems as barriers to investment.
Mmolotsi noted that although the average tourist spend per day rose from P1,328 in 2022 to P1,718 in 2023, it dropped to P1,493 in 2024 and further declined to P1,183 in 2025, whilst the average length of stay has also been falling.
“These figures tell us something important. Attracting visitors is not enough. We must also give them stronger reasons to stay longer, travel wider, and spend across a broader tourism value chain,” he said.
To address this, government plans to strengthen inter-district tourism circuits linking destinations such as the Okavango Delta, Tsodilo Hills, Kasane, Gaborone, and Francistown, whilst expanding offerings in culture, heritage, conferencing, sport, and urban tourism.
The minister further said government aims to create 5,000 additional jobs by 2030 through the National Tourism Strategy and Master Plan, Tourism Development Areas, and the expansion of museums and heritage projects.
In the 2025–2026 financial year alone, 223 new tourism enterprise licences were issued, with citizens owning the majority of them, whilst 416 new jobs have already been created through newly licensed tourism facilities against a target of 1,000 by year-end, the minister announced.
Mmolotsi also revealed that the ministry will launch the Tourism Satellite Account in July 2026 to provide a clearer picture of tourism’s true contribution to the economy, whilst consultations to review the Tourism Act of 2009 will begin in May this year.
He urged stakeholders to embrace partnerships and innovation in reshaping Botswana’s tourism landscape.
“The future of Botswana tourism cannot be carried by government alone. It must be built through partnership, shared purpose, and collective courage,” he said.