23 Apr 2025

Members of the Hospitality and Tourism Association Botswana (HATAB) and key stakeholders will meet in Maun today to engage in discussions, explore opportunities and address challenges within the tourism sector.

This year’s conference will be held under the theme: Botswana tourism: What are the conditions for growth? and President Advocate  Duma Boko is expected to perform the official opening.

However, some HATAB members are anticipating the conference to also address pending issues affecting the industry such as poor roads infrastructure in parks and game reserves as well as old gates which they said needed renovation.

While they appreciated that there were already topics on the agenda to be discussed such as the tourism strategy, digital transformation, aviation and economic sustainability and MICE tourism and destination marketing, among others, members said in an interview that some issues had been dragging for a long time and believed that they could take advantage of the conference to take them up with the relevant authorities.

“We have been complaining about poor road infrastructure in our parks and game reserves and I believe through this platform, we can make our voice heard more so that policy makers and government officials will be in attendance,” said Mr Modiakgotla Mokgowe, a mobile operator at Kasane.

He said mobile operators were faced with many challenges citing the pressing issue of water supply at Savuti and hoped the relevant ministry would bring a permanent solution to arrest the issue.

Mobile operators through their association, the Botswana Guides Association, recently took up the matter with the Ministry of Environment and Tourism expressing their grievances with regards to the payment of water by mobile operators in Savuti Camp and that the matter was also coming from a company which  they did not have an agreement with.

However, a response from the ministry was that they would continue to draw water from the department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) borehole in Savuti without any charge as per the previous arrangement.

The ministry further informed members that the above dispensation would continue pending the development of water management strategy by DNWP that could amongst others introduce cost recovery.

Mr Mokgowe also appreciated that the conference would discuss MICE tourism and destination marketing saying effective marketing was crucial in the tourism sector for attracting visitors.

Some operators, he said, struggled to come up with marketing strategies and believed that through the conference, they would learn good practices on how best they could market their businesses in order to thrive and eventually stimulate economic growth.

He said customer care was another area that needed to be looked into. Mr Mokgowe said exceptional customer services remained critical in efforts to improve the country’s competitive advantage in the global tourism landscape. “We should exercise professionalism in providing service to our clients as that can also help to expand our market,” he added.

However, small business owners also welcomed the conference, saying it would boast their businesses and generate better profits.

Meanwhile, the conference is expected to attract over 250 participants from across the public and private sector, international affiliates and tourism partners, among others, to discuss pressing issues and explore opportunities for inclusive growth. 

Members of HATAB comprise of airlines, camps and lodges, hotels, air charters, mobile operators, tour operators, conservation and wildlife management and services sub sectors and the association exists to promote and encourage excellence in hospitality and tourism in the country. ENDS