Imagine a country where 30% of its land is dedicated to wildlife conservation, where elephants outnumber humans, and where tourism fuels not just economies but entire ecosystems. This is Botswana.
Tourism in Botswana is a national asset, a cultural bridge, and a powerful engine for sustainable economic development. With pristine wilderness, abundant wildlife, and a rich cultural heritage, Botswana has long been recognized as one of Africa’s premier tourism destinations. Yet, in a rapidly evolving global landscape, maintaining and expanding this position requires strategic investment, innovative financing, and a sustainable business ecosystem that supports both large industry players and small, community-based enterprises.
At Stanbic Bank Botswana, we recognise that the future of tourism is not just about increasing visitor numbers—it’s about building resilient, forward-thinking businesses that enhance the tourism experience, create employment, and preserve our natural heritage. The question is no longer whether Botswana can be a leader in African tourism, but rather, how we ensure the sector’s sustained growth in a way that benefits all Batswana.
Botswana’s Tourism Landscape: A Sector on the Rise
Recent international visitor statistics point to a strong recovery and growth trajectory for Botswana’s tourism sector:
- In 2023, Botswana welcomed 1,183,432 international visitors, with 312,030 arriving for leisure and holiday purposes.
- In Q1 2024, Botswana saw a further increase in visitor arrivals, reflecting renewed global interest in the country’s unique tourism offerings.
- Kasane, Maun, and Gaborone continue to be the highest-receiving regions, serving as key gateways to Botswana’s top attractions, including the Okavango Delta, Chobe National Park, and the Central Kalahari Game Reserve.
With these encouraging trends, the focus must now shift toward ensuring businesses along the tourism value chain—from hospitality and transport to cultural tourism—have the necessary financial support, infrastructure, and innovation to capitalize on this momentum.
Trends in African Tourism: Where Botswana Must Act
Tourism across Africa is undergoing a rapid transformation, driven by several key trends that present both opportunities and challenges for Botswana:
Eco-Tourism and Sustainable Travel
Sustainability has shifted from a niche concern to a global priority. Travellers now actively seek destinations that demonstrate a commitment to environmental conservation and responsible tourism. Botswana has long been a pioneer in low-volume, high-value tourism, but it must go further by integrating net-positive sustainability models.
- Current gap: Only 15% of Botswana’s lodges are solar-powered, compared to a growing number of fully carbon-neutral accommodations in other parts of Africa.
- Opportunity: Transition all major tourism infrastructure to carbon neutrality by 2030, supported by green financing models.
Tech-Enabled Tourism: AI, Apps, and the Digital Safari
The global travel industry is increasingly shaped by digital innovation. From AI-powered safari recommendations to blockchain-based conservation efforts, technology is redefining how tourists experience Africa.
- Challenge: Botswana lags behind in digital tourism platforms compared to Kenya and South Africa, where digital safari apps and online booking innovations dominate.
- Solution: Develop a national tourism technology hub in Maun, offering grants for startups to build smart tourism solutions, including wildlife tracking apps, AR-guided tours, and AI-driven visitor experiences.
Cultural Tourism: The Untapped $10B Opportunity
Botswana’s San Bushmen heritage, Tswana traditions, and local storytelling remain sidelined in mainstream tourism. By contrast, Ghana’s “Year of Return” campaign in 2019 attracted 1.1 million diaspora travelers, generating $1.9 billion in revenue through cultural tourism.
- Strategy: Integration cultural heritage tourism into mainstream safari packages, ensuring that communities become equity partners in tourism ventures rather than just employees.
- Implementation: Developing tourism models where local artisans, storytellers, and cultural performers benefit directly from visitor spending.
Infrastructure Investment: The Make-or-Break Factor
- Botswana’s airports handle only 10% of regional tourism traffic compared to South Africa.
- The Okavango Delta’s limited transport infrastructure remains a barrier to accessibility.
To remain competitive, public-private partnerships (PPPs) must be fast-tracked to upgrade Kasane and Maun airports into full-fledged regional hubs. Additionally, night flights should be introduced to bypass the Delta’s daytime-only access restrictions, maximizing visitor flow.
Financing Botswana’s Tourism Future
Radical SME Support
- 60% of Botswana’s tourism businesses are SMEs, yet only 12% have access to formal loans.
- Solution: A tourism innovation fund providing low-interest loans and business development support for SMEs.
Green Bonds for Conservation
- Botswana can issue Africa’s first wildlife conservation bond, backed by tourism revenue, to finance anti-poaching technology, sustainable lodges, and rewilding projects.
Diaspora Investment
- We ought Attract Botswana’s global diaspora with citizenship-by-investment visas tied to tourism projects, unlocking new funding streams.
The Role of Financial Institutions in Driving Tourism Growth
As Botswana’s tourism sector evolves, Stanbic Bank Botswana is committed to:
- Infrastructure Financing: Supporting the development of hotels, transport hubs, and sustainable lodges.
- Community-Based Tourism Support: Providing financial backing and mentorship for local tour operators, cultural tourism businesses, and small lodges.
- Green Financing: Prioritizing sustainability-driven investments, such as solar-powered lodges and eco-friendly transport solutions.
Moving Forward
Tourism contributes 13.3% to Botswana’s GDP—yet it has the potential to do far more. The challenge is no longer about recognizing Botswana’s potential; it is about harnessing it with urgency.
The time for slow, incremental change is over. If Botswana wants to lead, it must act now.Three Commitments to consider for the Next Decade:
- Transforming tourism infrastructure: Airports, roads, and digital connectivity must be overhauled to compete globally.
- Making cultural tourism a national priority: Wildlife alone won’t sustain Botswana’s tourism leadership—culture, technology, and heritage must be front and center.
- Finance the future: Bold investments in SMEs, green energy, and tech-driven tourism will future-proof Botswana’s tourism sector.
Botswana is not just selling sunsets and safaris, we are selling a vision of Africa’s future. A future where sustainability, innovation, and equity are the foundation of a thriving tourism industry.
The question is not whether Botswana can lead. The question is: Are we bold enough to make it happen?
Let’s build a resilient, world-class tourism sector—together.
By Lesego Osman, Stanbic Bank Botswana Head of Business & Commercial Banking (BCB)