Botswana’s latest tourism statistics reinforce the KAZA landscape as the cornerstone of the country’s tourism economy and a key driver of sustainable development

On 7 July 2026, the Government of the Republic of Botswana, through the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, officially launched the Botswana Tourism Satellite Account (TSA) for the years 2020 through 2024, alongside the Inbound Visitor Survey Report 2025 and the Tourism Statistics System (T-STATS) and its mobile application. The launch marked a significant milestone in strengthening evidence-based tourism planning and decision-making.

Together, these tools provide a comprehensive picture of Botswana’s tourism sector, offering valuable insights into visitor behaviour, the sector’s economic contribution, and opportunities for future growth. The findings reveal that tourism generated P19.6 billion in internal tourism consumption and supported nearly 53,000 jobs, demonstrating the sector’s continued recovery and its vital contribution to Botswana’s economy.

Speaking during the launch, Minister of Environment and Tourism, Hon. Wynter Mmolotsi, described the Tourism Satellite Account as the most comprehensive and internationally recognised framework for measuring tourism’s contribution to the economy. He noted that reliable tourism data is more than a collection of statistics, it is a foundation for action that enables governments, the private sector and communities to make informed decisions, attract investment and build a more resilient, competitive and sustainable tourism sector.

For the Kavango Zambezi Trans Frontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA), this milestone is particularly significant, reaffirming that majority of Botswana’s wildlife-based tourism economy is anchored within the KAZA landscape. An earlier version of Botswana’s TSA was developed with support from the World Bank and the German Government through KAZA TFCA, underscoring the importance of continued investment in data-driven tourism planning and sustainable destination development.

The new report shows that Chobe National Park attracted more than 52% of all leisure visitors, while the Okavango Delta, Maun and Moremi Game Reserve remained among Botswana’s most visited tourism destinations. In addition, nearly 70% of international visitors identified wildlife and nature experiences as their primary reason for travelling to Botswana.

The findings also reinforce several priorities that align with KAZA’s regional tourism agenda, including:

• promoting higher-value, longer-stay tourism experiences,
• improving cross-border travel and advancing regional initiatives such as the KAZA UNIVISA,
• investing in transport infrastructure and tourism connectivity to enhance the visitor experience,
• strengthening community participation, local enterprises and tourism value chains so that more people benefit from conservation, and
• diversifying tourism beyond traditional destinations to unlock the full potential of the wider KAZA landscape.

Delivering the closing remarks at the TSA dissemination event in Chobe District, KAZA TFCA Secretariat Executive Director Dr. Nyambe Nyambe emphasised that tourism is far more than a leisure activity. It is a strategic economic sector that generates employment, stimulates investment, empowers communities and contributes significantly to national development. He noted that reliable tourism statistics provide the evidence needed to inform policy, attract investment, strengthen regional collaboration and demonstrate the true value of conservation-based tourism.

He further reaffirmed KAZA’s commitment to enhancing destination competitiveness, strengthening the link between conservation and economic development, and supporting harmonised tourism development across the five Partner States. He added that Botswana’s experience offers valuable lessons for the wider KAZA region as Partner States continue to position the landscape as a single destination under the “Kavango Zambezi – Rivers of Life” brand and develop innovative transboundary tourism products, including the Kavango Zambezi Birding Route, the first transboundary birding route on the African continent.

The launch of these tools marks an important step towards building a future where tourism statistics are timely, reliable and homegrown, providing the evidence needed to guide informed decision-making and sustainable growth. As KAZA TFCA continues to pursue its vision of becoming a world-class conservation and tourism destination that delivers both biodiversity conservation and sustainable socio-economic benefits for its people, these insights will play a critical role in shaping the future of the landscape.