Botswana puts tourism at heart of economic transformation
Botswana’s Vice President and Finance Minister, Ndaba Gaolathe, has positioned tourism as central to socio‑economic transformation and shared prosperity, speaking at the launch of the 2026 Tourism Pitso in Francistown. He said the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme and National Development Plan 12 aim to deepen citizen participation, strengthen collaboration and drive inclusive growth, with tourism prioritised to reduce leakages, regain value and enhance global competitiveness.
Environment and Tourism Minister Wynter Mmolotsi outlined measures to accelerate the sector, including a tender to appoint a consultant to assess the impact of local per diems on tourism and inform policy adjustments. He cited legislative progress through the Community‑Based Natural Resource Management Bill to bolster community ownership, alongside a Cabinet‑approved review to streamline licensing and improve the investment climate. The sector recorded 1,183,432 international arrivals in 2023, contributed 5.1 per cent to GDP and supported more than 58,000 jobs. The 2026 Tourism Pitso ran under the theme Tourism as a catalyst for economic transformation and sustainable growth through partnerships.
Source: Botswana Daily News