Botswana’s tourism industry has been shrinking since 2019, according to Environment and Tourism Minister Wynter Mmolotsi.
Speaking at the 2026 HATAB Annual Conference in Maun, Mmolotsi noted that international visitors aren’t just coming in smaller numbers — they’re also leaving sooner. The average stay fell from 6.3 nights in 2019 to just 4.9 nights in 2025.
Tourist spending has been unstable too. Daily spending rose from P1,328 in 2022 to P1,718 in 2023, then slipped to P1,493 in 2024 and down again to P1,183 in 2025.
Mmolotsi said these shifts point to a deeper problem for Botswana’s tourism sector. Getting visitors through the border isn’t enough, he argued. The real challenge is keeping them in the country longer, getting them to visit more regions, and spreading their spending across different parts of the industry.
“Expanding what we offer isn’t a choice — it’s a necessity,” he said.