The Botswana Ministry of Environment and Tourism has launched a nationwide consultation process to review the Tourism Act of 2009 with the aim of modernising the legal framework governing the sector.
Speaking at a stakeholder consultation event, Botswana’s Minister of Environment and Tourism Wynter Boipuso Mmolotsi said the review follows the adoption of the National Tourism Policy in 2021 and the development of the 10-year National Tourism Strategy and Master Plan.
The strategy is built on four pillars:
- Creating an enabling environment
- Strengthening marketing and branding
- Improving infrastructure and support services
- Enhancing product development and diversification
Mmolotsi said the Tourism Act, which has guided the sector for more than 15 years, no longer reflects current global and domestic tourism realities. He cited increased global competition, the need for greater citizen participation, sustainability requirements, digital transformation and regional integration as key drivers of reform.
He said government also plans to review related legislation covering wildlife conservation, national parks, museums, forestry, civil aviation, transport permits and immigration to create a more coordinated regulatory environment for tourism development.
The consultation process will involve private-sector stakeholders, community-based organisations, local authorities and civil society with nationwide consultations and written submissions in the coming weeks, Mmolotsi pointed out.
