While Batswana hold the majority of tourism licenses in the country, Minister of Environment and Tourism Wynter Mmolotsi warns that their absence from capital-intensive, high-value segments remains a significant barrier to true economic inclusivity.
Speaking at the HATAB Annual Conference in Maun this week, Mmolotsi revealed that 223 new tourism enterprise licenses were issued during the 2025/26 financial year. While he described the majority citizen ownership of these new licenses as “encouraging,” he noted that numerical dominance has not yet translated into a presence in the industry’s most lucrative markets.
The Minister pointed out a stark disparity: despite owning many businesses, Batswana remain underrepresented in premium segments such as concession-area lodges and high-end investments.
“If tourism is to be truly inclusive, then citizens must have a stronger foothold not only in the number of businesses, but also in the segments that attract the largest investment and generate the highest returns,” Mmolotsi emphasized. He argued that shifting citizen participation toward these premium tiers must remain the focal point of the nation’s economic empowerment strategy.
The Minister also framed the sector as a critical engine for the national labor market, describing it as one of the most labor-intensive pillars of the economy. He noted that every investment—whether in a hotel, transport service, or heritage site—directly impacts local households and community dignity.
Statistics for the 2025/26 period show that 416 new jobs have already been generated through newly licensed facilities, with the government aiming to reach 1,000 jobs by the end of the year. Under the National Tourism Strategy and Master Plan, which includes the development of Tourism Development Areas and expanded museum projects, the government has set a target of creating 5,000 additional jobs by 2030.
HATAB Chairperson Lawrence Lecha backed the Minister’s assessment, highlighting tourism as the “heartbeat” of communities, particularly for youth and women in rural areas. However, Lecha stressed that reshaping the landscape requires a focus on labor productivity and skills development to ensure these new roles are sustainable in the long term.
In a bid to expand the industry beyond traditional wilderness excursions, Mmolotsi announced a deliberate shift toward “City Tourism,” embracing heritage, culture, and urban experiences. He reported that the launch of this initiative in Gaborone and Francistown has already yielded “encouraging results,” with a significant spike in visitors to the National Museum and the Three Dikgosi Monument.
Plans are now underway to extend this model to Maun, Kasane, Lobatse, and Selebi-Phikwe. The goal, according to the Minister, is to ensure that the economic benefits of tourism growth are shared more broadly across Botswana’s urban and rural communities.
