By Boniface Keakabetse
Despite the severe downturn in Botswana’s economy caused by the global diamond crunch, the country’s tourism sector is showing strong signs of recovery, with operators reporting a return to 2019 visitor arrival levels since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Botswana’s diamond industry, which historically contributed around 28% to the country’s GDP, has faced significant challenges as global demand softened. The resulting economic strain was felt across many sectors. However, tourism—accounting for approximately 12% of Botswana’s GDP pre-pandemic—is emerging as a vital area of growth and diversification.
One key industry voice, tourism operator Beks Ndlovu of African Bush Camps, shared insights on the post-COVID recovery and the resilience of the sector:
“The COVID pandemic really brought us down to our knees,” Ndlovu admits. “But as a group, we adopted a policy of not retrenching staff. We retained 100% of our employees, though we had to reduce earnings drastically—to about 40%, myself included—as a demonstration of where we were financially.”
Ndlovu emphasized that the decision to keep all staff was rooted in the company’s belief in investing in people. “The training and upskilling we provide are invaluable. We needed to hold onto our team so that when tourism started to recover, we were ready to restart operations seamlessly.”
The initial two years following the pandemic were marked by slow business and tight finances. Yet the sector steadily improved: earnings climbed from 40% to 60%, then 80%, and have held at full capacity for over two years. Today, operators like Ndlovu express cautious optimism that tourism growth will continue.
According to recent projections by Botswana’s Ministry of Tourism, the sector is expected to grow annually by 7-9% over the next five years, driven by increased regional travel and a rebound in international arrivals. This growth presents an important opportunity for Botswana to reduce its economic reliance on diamonds and accelerate diversification into sustainable tourism.
As Botswana rebuilds from the dual shocks of the diamond market slump and the COVID-19 pandemic, the tourism sector’s revival stands as a beacon of hope for the country’s economic future. With strong leadership, ongoing investment in human capital, and a renewed global appetite for travel, Botswana’s wildlife-rich destinations are poised to reclaim their status on the world tourism map.
Beks Ndlovu Calls for Uniformity to Boost Southern Africa’s Tourism Sector
However Ndlovu also emphasized the urgent need for greater regional coordination in Southern Africa to foster tourism growth. Highlighting the fragmented nature of border controls and land management, he described current borders as a “colonial mentality” that holds the region back.
Ndlovu pointed out the differing governance of tourism areas—wilderness zones on tribal lands in Botswana, national parks in Zimbabwe and Zambia—which creates a patchwork of rules that hinder a unified approach.
He compared Southern Africa’s situation with the European Union’s open border system, which enhances cultural understanding and legal uniformity, enabling better collaboration across countries.
“Our region remains fixated on borders arbitrarily drawn over a century ago, dividing people and resources,” Ndlovu said. “Until we bridge these divides, managing wildlife and tourism will remain siloed, missing opportunities to learn from collective successes and challenges.”
He urged governments to work towards harmonized policies and freer movement to unlock the full potential of Southern Africa’s rich natural heritage.