- Promises viable solutions to industry concerns
- This includes long-standing concern of lease renewals
- Blames lack of agility on public servants for the delay
- Says he looks to industry players to provide guidance on legal reforms
- Accedes to HATAB’s request for Tourism Pitso to be reinstated
In his first address at the Hospitality and Tourism Association of Botswana (HATAB) Annual Conference 2025 on Thursday, President Duma Boko seem to have charmed and brought hope to the hearts of industry players who as a norm have always used the platform to catalogue a litany of issues as challenges: and he has promised viable solutions.
HATAB chairman, Joe Motse has once again like in the previous Conferences during the reign of past administrations, this week highlighted some of these concerns, mostly repeats that concerns them, top of the list being lease renewals which he complained remains a thorn in the industry. He lamented that the implications in delays to finalise lease agreements are far reaching because they do not allow for speedy and reliable growth of the tourism industry.
“We need to be able to improve our turnaround in terms of finalising issues such as lease agreements,” the chairman pleaded.
Motse said there is need for government to be agile, considerate and review policies and regulations instantly and on time for the industry to ensure that they continue to help in employment and job creation.
In addition, Motse called for the need to actually strengthen the tourism industry as it is the only other alternative to the growth of the economy. “Tourism is the only thing that can actually sustain and diversify our economy within a short period of time. We have seen and are seeing the results.”
Not convinced as to why it should take so such amount of time to renew lease agreements, Boko has blamed lack of agility on public servants.
“Some of these things actually confuse and confine my understanding, why doesn’t it take two days to renew a lease. Why does it take such amount of time. What’s the problem?” wondered the president who accused public servants for delaying that to get busy with other activities.
He assured the industry players, “I have asked for agility staff should not be done today or tomorrow it should be done yesterday.” Boko further guaranteed them that for any industry that must empower the economy including tourism this shall be done.
“With the ideas that you will churn out and channel to the government which will be well thought out informed by your experiences, you will then shape policy, develop our laws and make the environment conducive to your doing the business that you so passionately love.”
Boko said they are not in any doubt that tourism presents a huge potential for the country and if managed well it may overtake the diamonds. He said there is therefore need to wrestle with some of the challenges it faces as they seek to grow the industry.
The president added that he looks to the industry participants and players to inform and guide on what challenges they have because they are in the frontlines. “You are the ones feeling the brunt more directly than myself and others. So, the industry carries a heavy obligation of providing the raw data, the facts and the facts pattens that must inform any attempt at legislative reform.”
This as HATAB chairman had earlier pleaded that when they come up with policy issues, there is need to at least do a litmus test of those policies to see how they will impact the industry at large when they are implemented. Motse assured that when they come up with policy issues, they actually do a detailed study as to what the implications of those policies and regulations are going to be on tourism.
He added that through a partnership that they have agreed to formulate with the ministry of environment and tourism, government should be quick to review and alter changes where it is necessary. He called on them where they see the impediment to doing business, they should not take too long to review things and in that process leave the investors and the industry disadvantaged.
Through this partnership, Motse said they will also offer possible solutions so that they move forward in a quicker and better way appreciating the minister’s committed to that.
Meanwhile, president Boko has acceded to the request by HATAB chairman for the Tourism Pitso to be reinstated as it will allow them to discuss issues in more depth. He believes that this is necessary as it is at this platform where they have broad, various stakeholders from across ministries and departments.
“I am doing myself a favour by agreeing to hold this Pitso, I am allowing myself to be informed and guided, educated by people who know as the expects of the industry. I take you up on your requests and accept it readily so you will schedule,” said Boko.
Boko has also agreed to the request by HATAB chairman for them to pay him a courtesy call noting that such engagements are important to move the industry forward.
