Minister Mmolotsi Charts Path for Tourism Transformation at HATAB Conference

Minister Mmolotsi Charts Path for Tourism Transformation at HATAB Conference. The 41st Hospitality and Tourism Association of Botswana (HATAB) Annual Conference opened today with a keynote address by the Minister of Environment and Tourism, Hon. Wynter Mmolotsi, who set a bold agenda for the future of Botswana’s tourism sector.

In his remarks, the Minister reaffirmed the strength of Botswana’s high-value, low-volume tourism model, while urging accelerated diversification to meet evolving market demands and climate realities. He emphasized the need to build integrated tourism circuits that connect wildlife with culture, heritage, urban experiences, and business tourism. Such diversification, he noted, would enhance visitor stays, deepen experiences, and increase value across the tourism chain.

Positioning tourism as a central pillar of the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme (BETP), Hon. Mmolotsi outlined ambitious targets to grow arrivals, extend length of stay, and drive job creation and investment. He stressed the importance of addressing bottlenecks such as land allocation processes, infrastructure gaps, and lengthy approval systems, describing them as critical barriers to unlocking the sector’s full potential.

The Minister also highlighted the role of data-driven decision-making, pointing to the launch of the Tourism Dashboard on 14 April 2026 as a milestone in strengthening real-time intelligence. He announced that the Tourism Satellite Account, set for release in July 2026, will provide a comprehensive measure of tourism’s contribution to the national economy.

In addition, Hon. Mmolotsi revealed that consultations on the review of the Tourism Act of 2009 will begin this week, signaling a decisive step toward modernizing the legislative framework to align with the sector’s evolving ambitions.Concluding his address, the Minister called for strengthened collaboration across government, private sector, and communities to build a more inclusive, resilient, and globally competitive tourism industry.