Communities have earned close to P195 million from hunting activities since the lifting of the hunting ban in 2022, with approximately 7,000 jobs created annually through Community-Based Organisations (CBOs). This was revealed in Parliament by the Minister of Environment and Tourism Wynter Mmolotsi in response to Molepolole North MP Arafat Khan, who had asked for a comprehensive update on the benefits of lifting the hunting ban, tourism concession leases, the role of institutions in concession allocations, Botswana Tourism Organisation’s (BTO) performance, and citizen participation in the tourism sector.
Minister Mmolotsi confirmed that the United States, Germany, Spain, Italy, France, and South Africa remain the main markets for Botswana’s hunting trophies, with emerging interest from Mexico and the United Arab Emirates. He noted that the Far East remains largely unexplored but presents future opportunities.
On tourism concessions, the Minister reported that 40 leases have expired in the last 20 years, of which 29 have been renewed. The renewed leases include areas such as NG4, NG14 through NG34, NG41, and Nxai Pan and Khwai Campgrounds, among others. Eleven leases are still pending renewal. Mmolotsi explained that the Land Boards allocate concessions on tribal land under the Tribal Land Act, while the Department of Lands handles state land allocations in accordance with the State Land Act. The Ministry of Environment and Tourism, through BTO, supports these allocations by identifying suitable investors and offering technical advice to Land Authorities.
The Minister acknowledged that delays in lease renewals were caused by a 2014 policy change that had transferred concession management from Land Boards to the Ministry. This move led to inconsistencies with the Tribal Land Act and disrupted lease administration. In 2019, the mandate was transferred back to Land Boards. A phased handover process introduced new challenges, including compliance issues, which contributed to further delays.
To resolve the situation, the Ministers of Environment and Tourism and of Lands and Agriculture drafted a Cabinet Information Note in December 2024, which was approved in April 2025. The new directive instructed Land Boards to consider renewing long-pending leases, conduct inspections within six months of the lease renewal period, and require operators to resolve any compliance issues within a year. Conditional lease renewals for the 11 pending concessions have now been approved, with compliance inspections underway and expected to conclude by July 2025.
Turning to the mandate and performance of BTO, the Minister highlighted several achievements over the past five years. These include the empowerment of citizens through the allocation of 21 tourism sites, establishment of community joint ventures in areas like Mababe and Khwai with investments amounting to P72 million, and the creation of over 120 jobs. Projects such as the Khawa Campground, Khuis Tourism Park, and Phuduhudu Cultural Village were cited as examples of BTO’s efforts to diversify Botswana’s tourism offerings. The organisation also led destination marketing campaigns, hosted virtual expos, and participated in international trade fairs during and after COVID-19, contributing to a 91% recovery of the sector’s pre-pandemic GDP contribution.
By 2023, Botswana had reached 76% of its pre-COVID visitor numbers, with the United States and Germany exceeding 2019 figures. The tourism sector’s contribution to GDP rose from BWP13.6 billion in 2020 to BWP32.8 billion in 2023. In terms of local economic impact, BTO-supported events such as the Dithubaruba Cultural Festival, Ghanzi Meat Festival, and the Nkashi Classic helped generate approximately BWP133 million for local companies between 2022 and 2024.
BTO has also advanced its Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events (MICE) strategy, positioning Botswana as a regional hub for business tourism. A MICE unit has been set up, with a national strategy and implementation plan awaiting final Cabinet approval.
However, the Minister also acknowledged challenges. Key among them is the delayed implementation of the Dams Tourism Initiative due to lack of funding and the absence of head leases for sites such as Letsibogo, Shashe, and Thune dams. Marketing and diversification projects have also been slowed by budget constraints.
With regard to compliance with the Auditor General, the Minister admitted that BTO has been unable to finalise financial audits for the past six years. The delay stems from a combination of a Special Purpose Review initiated in 2019, a late appointment of auditors, and audit disagreements concerning the treatment of funds from the Tourism Development Fund. The change in accounting treatment from loans to grants was only approved by a newly constituted BTO board in October 2024. Deloitte, the former auditors, completed the 2018/2019 audit and resigned from subsequent years, prompting BTO to appoint KPMG to handle the remaining financial periods. Finalisation of the audit process is now expected by the end of August 2025.
On citizen participation, Minister Mmolotsi reported that in the past ten years, four concessions were awarded to citizens, while 24 leases are currently held by citizens, 15 by community-based organisations, and 13 through joint venture partnerships. He reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to equitable access and citizen empowerment in the tourism sector.
