HATAB OUTLINES STRATEGIC ROADMAP FOR A RESILIENT TOURISM SECTOR

Lily Rakorong, Chief Executive Officer of the Hospitality and Tourism Association of Botswana, recently met members of the local press in Gaborone to present the association’s 2026 strategic roadmap. She positioned tourism as central to Botswana’s economic trajectory at a time of constrained growth. 

Rakorong placed regulatory reform at the forefront of the agenda, identifying business red tape and complex licensing requirements as primary constraints on growth. She called for structured stakeholder engagement for regulatory changes and urged a comprehensive review of new user fees affecting operators. She emphasised that the industry needs quicker implementation of reforms to support business operations and encourage local participation.

Global competitiveness followed as a priority, particularly improvements in visa processes and stronger, more consistent marketing in key source markets such as England, Germany, and the United States. Rakorong acknowledged that Botswana’s promotional footprint remains limited relative to its potential and argued that both domestic and international markets must be maximised to stabilise sector performance.

Air access and infrastructure development were presented as structural enablers of competitiveness. Rakorong referenced ongoing developments at Maun Airport and confirmed that AviaDev Africa 2026 will take place in Botswana in June to explore regional aviation implementation strategies. 

She also outlined plans to strengthen city tourism, with a focus on repositioning Gaborone as a more active destination through improved infrastructure, adjusted trading hours, coordinated stakeholder engagement, and enhanced safety measures. 

With the recent budget speech delivered by the Vice President of Botswana, His Honour Ndaba Gaolathe, she expressed optimism that 2026/2027 could mark a turning point, focused on disciplined execution to continue positioning Botswana as a premier “go-to” destination.