Debunking the myths of Botswana's tourism boycott

A common approach is to threaten Botswana with a tourism boycott. They are saying the 2.5 million of foreign tourists visiting Botswana to photograph elephants are contributing massively to the country’s 11.5% tourism gross domestic product (GDP) and creating 76, 000 jobs.

The implication is that these millions of people will refuse to visit Botswana if the hunting ban is lifted. The latest threat is based on a poll commissioned by Humane Society International in the US on people’s perception about the lifting of the hunting ban. Many articles headlined “Botswana risks losing US tourists on lifting the hunting ban” are appearing in the media.