The Uganda-Botswana Tourism Roadshow, held on December 6, 2025, marked a significant milestone in the diplomatic and economic relationship between the two nations. Hosted through a strategic partnership with the Hospitality and Tourism Association of Botswana (HATAB) and the Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO), the event served as a high-level platform for industry leaders to explore joint destination marketing and cultural exchange. By bringing together travel operators and government officials, the roadshow emphasized a shared vision of positioning both countries as premier global destinations while fostering an environment conducive to business networking and sustainable investment.
During his keynote address, Dr. Sebastian Okello-Wengi, the Honorary Consul of Uganda in the Republic of Botswana, expressed profound gratitude to the BTO and HATAB for their hospitality and commitment to regional integration. He underscored that the engagement was designed not only to promote growth within the two nations but also to catalyze tourism development across the SADC region and the wider continent. Dr. Wengi highlighted that this collaboration aligns seamlessly with the African Union Agenda 2063, recognizing tourism as a priority sector capable of driving socio-economic transformation and unity across Africa.
Uganda’s impressive tourism trajectory took center stage, with Dr. Wengi describing the sector as a “lifeline” for the Pearl of Africa. He noted that tourism currently contributes 7.7% to Uganda’s GDP, employs over 646,000 citizens, and generates an annual foreign exchange of $1.63 billion. These statistics underscore the immense potential for Uganda to share best practices in eco-tourism and wildlife management—such as its world-renowned gorilla trekking and Nile River adventures—with its Southern African counterparts, creating a robust framework for mutual economic benefit.
Representing the private sector, HATAB CEO Ms. Lily Rakorong hailed the inaugural roadshow as a celebration of tourism’s unique power to connect people and showcase the rich diversity of African landscapes. She emphasized that the event provided a crucial platform for Botswana’s operators to learn from Uganda’s successes and vice-versa, facilitating business-to-business (B2B) discussions aimed at sealing meaningful deals. According to Ms. Rakorong, the roadshow serves as a catalyst for innovation and friendship, ensuring that the private sector remains a driving force for sustainable progress and continental collaboration.
Concluding the event’s high-level presentations, Mr. Samuel Lephalo of the Botswana Tourism Organisation outlined the strategic mandate to elevate Botswana’s status on the world stage. He focused on BTO’s commitment to attracting investment across the tourism value chain and maintaining world-class standards through rigorous grading and certification of facilities. As both nations look toward the future, this roadshow stands as a testament to the “force for unity” that tourism represents, paving the way for integrated travel itineraries that allow global visitors to experience the best of both East and Southern Africa.
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