The Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO) has called on the private sector to embrace sustainability as a business and investment opportunity, saying responsible tourism practices are critical to protecting Botswana’s natural heritage while driving economic growth.
Speaking ahead of Botswana Sustainability Week 2026, BTO Acting Chief Executive Officer Ogopotse Baoleki said sustainability presented an opportunity to grow the economy while preserving the country’s biodiversity and cultural heritage.
“Sustainability is a strategic opportunity to drive Botswana’s economic growth while protecting its natural heritage,” Baoleki said in his closing remarks at a media engagement on the event.
He said sustainable tourism could help preserve natural resources, support local enterprises and strengthen Botswana’s position as a destination of choice.
“We therefore encourage the private sector to adopt responsible business practices that balance economic development with environmental conservation,” he said.
The event aims to position sustainability as an economic growth agenda, unlocking opportunities across tourism, natural capital, finance, energy and industry while contributing to national development priorities.
Botswana Sustainability Week 2026 will take place in Maun from October 21 to 23 under the theme, “The Business of Sustainability: Activating Private Sector Leadership to Drive Botswana’s Next Growth Economy.”
The event aims to position sustainability as an economic growth agenda, unlocking opportunities across tourism, natural capital, finance, energy and industry while contributing to national development priorities.
BTO Acting Executive Manager for Marketing Tebogo Ramakgathi said the organisation was proud to support the event as a strategic partner because it brought together leaders and practitioners committed to sustainable development and responsible tourism. She said sustainability remained a critical pillar of Botswana’s tourism growth agenda, ensuring that natural resources, wildlife, cultural heritage and communities continued to benefit present and future generations.
Ramakgathi added that the event aligned with Botswana’s ambition to position itself as a leading Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) destination.
“By hosting impactful conferences and knowledge-sharing platforms such as Botswana Sustainability Week, we not only drive business tourism and economic diversification but also showcase Botswana’s commitment to responsible and sustainable development,” she said.
BTO Environment and Eco-Certification Manager Mokganedi Ntana said sustainability had evolved beyond an environmental concern to become a business imperative and a driver of competitiveness.
“For Botswana, sustainability is not simply about conservation. It is about ensuring that tourism growth creates lasting economic opportunities while safeguarding our natural capital for future generations,” Ntana said.
He said the tourism sector’s long-term success depended on protecting the natural assets that attracted visitors to Botswana, while private sector investment was essential to expanding sustainability initiatives across accommodation establishments, tour operators, transport providers and tourism value chains.
As part of its contribution, BTO said it would continue promoting responsible tourism investment and supporting sustainable tourism standards through the Botswana Ecotourism Certification System (BECS). The organisation also plans to engage tourism businesses on environmental, social and governance requirements, encourage recognised sustainability certification frameworks and support businesses in becoming more resilient, resource-efficient and competitive.
“Botswana’s tourism brand has always been built on our natural heritage,” he said. “Our collective responsibility now is to ensure that sustainability becomes embedded in how we invest, operate and grow.”
Beyond the three-day event, BTO said its focus would include strengthening sustainable supply chains that benefit local communities and small, micro and medium enterprises, supporting community-based tourism and promoting responsible destination management. The organisation said the success of Botswana Sustainability Week would ultimately depend on measurable outcomes and projects implemented after the event. Ntana urged tourism businesses, investors and corporate partners to view sustainability as a growth opportunity, arguing that companies adopting responsible practices would be better positioned to meet changing customer expectations and access future markets.
“Botswana’s tourism brand has always been built on our natural heritage,” he said. “Our collective responsibility now is to ensure that sustainability becomes embedded in how we invest, operate and grow.”
Baoleki called for continued collaboration and innovation, saying partnerships between government, businesses and communities would be essential to building a greener, more inclusive and resilient Botswana.
