GABORONE
Botswana has launched a nationwide consultation process to review its Tourism Act of 2009, with government officials describing the exercise as a key step toward modernizing the legal framework governing one of the country’s most important economic sectors.
Speaking at a tourism stakeholder consultation on Thursday, Minister of Environment and Tourism Wynter Boipuso Mmolotsi said the review marks a new era in the transformation of Botswana’s tourism industry and reflects the government’s commitment to unlocking the sector’s full potential.
Mmolotsi said the review follows the adoption of the National Tourism Policy in 2021 and the development of the 10-year National Tourism Strategy and Master Plan, which is intended to guide both the sector’s recovery and its long-term sustainable growth.
According to the minister, the strategy is built around four key pillars: creating an enabling environment, strengthening marketing and branding, improving infrastructure and support services, and enhancing product development and diversification.
He said the Tourism Act, which has guided the sector for more than 15 years, no longer fully reflects current tourism realities, including increased global competition, growing sustainability demands, digital transformation and the need for greater citizen participation in the industry.
“The world has changed,” Mmolotsi said, stressing the importance of legislation that is responsive, competitive and supportive of innovation and inclusive growth.
Permanent Secretary Abigail Khumoyame told stakeholders that the review comes at an opportune time as tourism is increasingly being positioned as a key driver of economic growth under Vision 2036, the Botswana Economic Transformation Program, and National Development Plan 12.
She said the changing tourism landscape requires legislation that remains relevant and responsive to emerging opportunities while supporting ease of doing business within the sector.
Khumoyame said the review presents an opportunity to modernize the regulatory framework, address existing gaps and create conditions that encourage investment, innovation and competitiveness.
She added that the revised legislation should support both established and emerging tourism enterprises while helping Botswana remain an attractive destination for domestic and international visitors.
Both officials emphasized the importance of citizen participation in the tourism value chain. Khumoyame said stakeholder contributions should help ensure tourism benefits are widely shared among Batswana, while Mmolotsi identified greater citizen participation as one of the key objectives of the reform process.
The minister also revealed plans to review several related laws, including legislation governing wildlife conservation, national parks, museums, forestry, civil aviation, transport permits and immigration, to create a more coordinated regulatory environment for tourism development.
Mmolotsi said the consultation process would be inclusive and involve private sector players, community-based organizations, local authorities and civil society groups.
He said nationwide consultations and written submissions will continue in the coming weeks with the aim of developing a revised legal framework that reflects broad national consensus.
He also highlighted tourism’s role in the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme and National Development Plan 12, both of which identify the sector as a key contributor to the country’s ambition of achieving high-income status.
Describing the consultations as more than a procedural exercise, Mmolotsi said they provide an opportunity for stakeholders to contribute ideas and solutions that will shape the future of Botswana’s tourism industry.
The review is expected to culminate in updated tourism legislation designed to support sustainable growth, improve competitiveness and strengthen the sector’s contribution to national development.
