Gov�t to fine-tune tourism levy before June
Boniface Keakabetse | Tuesday May 9, 2017 15:10
This was explained by the Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism, Tshekedi Khama at the Hospitality and Tourism Association of Botswana (HATAB) conference held here recently.
Botswana Tourism Organisation, executive manager, investment and product development, Tafa Tafa presented on the levy. He said from June 1, all travellers to Botswana excluding residents and citizens of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) will have to pay a tourism development levy. Tafa explained that the funds from the levy will be invested in conservation, and tourism product development.
He explained that visitors will be charged $30 (€27) levy to be paid at ports of entry, including airports and border posts, through electronic payment machines, cash, and debit and credit cards. In response participants complained that the levy does not exclude children. However, Khama said they will review the levy before implementation to make sure it is age specific. He explained that the levy will be implemented in June.
Operators asked whether tourists who have made advance bookings and payments to visit Botswana before the introduction of the levy will be expected to pay the levy. Khama responded in the affirmative.
The minister was positive saying funds from the levy will be used for developing services and infrastructure that the tourism sector is dependent on.
Khama further explained that Botswana as a destination is not the only country in the SADC region charging the levy. He said they discovered that other countries in Europe also charge visitors tourism taxes to support sustainable development.
The introduction of the levy triggered complaints in the travel industry as travellers complain that Botswana is already the most expensive destination in Africa.
Traveller Graham Boynton writing for UK Telegraph Travel was quoted as saying: “Botswana is by far the most expensive safari destination on the continent: visitors can expect to pay up to £1,600 a night in high season at the top wildlife lodges.
“I spent a couple of nights at the Wilderness Safaris’ famous Mombo Camp; it was full, and all but two of the guests were extremely wealthy Americans: corporate lawyers, international financiers, business tycoons. One family of six New Yorkers had booked in for almost a week at a cost close to £55,000 – and they didn’t blink.”
Botswana has already taken tough decisions to support conservation such as ending the trophy hunting industry in 2014.