- “This Pitso, is intended to help us to re- cast our thoughts and re imagine our tourism may meaningfully improve livelihoods”
- “The true – north of our tourism sector is a diversified and inclusive tourism product”- VP Gaolathe
For 13 years, the government lacked a dedicated platform to meaningfully engage with the tourism industry, and during this hiatus, numerous challenges emerged particularly in the post-COVID-19 era—that hindered the sector’s recovery and growth.
Last week, the national tourism dialogue finally returned, held this year in Botswana’s second city, Francistown. Minister of Environment and Tourism, Wynter Mmolotsi, emphasised that the event was not intended to be a “talk shop” but a results-oriented forum where issues are catalogued, discussed, and actively resolved.
The revival of this critical forum was in direct response to a request made to President Duma Boko by industry leaders during the Hospitality and Tourism Association of Botswana (HATAB) conference last year.
Officially opening the Tourism Pitso, Vice President and Minister of Finance Ndaba Gaolathe highlighted tourism as a catalyst for “inclusive growth, job creation, environmental stewardship, and community empowerment”.
He emphasized the need to establish the sector as a strategic pillar of development by delivering targeted investments through strong partnerships.
During his keynote address, the Vice President called for an honest reflection on the state of the industry to chart a collaborative future path—a responsibility he asserted is shared by all stakeholders.
“As we embark upon the execution of the Botswana Economic Transformation Programme and National Development Plan 12 (NDP 12), our vision is clear: to deepen citizen empowerment and participation in our economy, strengthen collaboration, and build inclusive growth at all levels,” stated Gaolathe, setting a transformative tone for the forum.
He further noted that achieving these goals requires plugging economic leakages within the tourism sector to ensure more value is retained within the domestic economy.
Meanwhile, the desire for robust engagement quickly met with some friction. While the Pitso was designed to facilitate direct dialogue with the government, some delegates expressed concerns over a “controlled” atmosphere. They noted that lengthy panel discussions often ate into the time allotted for floor comments, where delegates were eager to voice frustrations over long-standing, unresolved challenges.
Indeed, many of the issues raised—ranging from community beneficiation to policy bottlenecks—have been on the table for years at various industry conferences. The fact that they remain central to this year’s Pitso suggests a historical trend of prioritising discussion over implementation.
Minister Mmolotsi assured delegates that this would change. He stated that under the new administration, his ministry is committed to both consultation and swift implementation.
Key agenda items on the Pitso’s radar included tourism growth and diversification challenges, plugging financial leakages in the industry, resolving policy bottlenecks that impede the sector, reviewing regional tourism contexts and financing opportunities, and market intelligence.
The most emotive discussions focused on recurring policy impediments that hinder the “ease of doing business” for small and medium operators. While many issues were not new—with the exception of recent tariff increases—they all pointed to a need for more agile governance.
In his closing remarks, Minister Mmolotsi took a proactive stance, addressing several contentious points directly. He further pledged to personally meet with aggrieved stakeholders to ensure their specific burning issues are finally resolved.
