24 Feb 2026

Botswana’s tourism fees, some unchanged for 30 years, are set to rise in a bid to strengthen revenue mobilisation and sustainability.

Currently ranked among the lowest in the region, the fees are expected to be increased starting beginning of April. Minister of Environment and Tourism, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi, said on Thursday during a consultative meeting on the proposed revision of tourism user fees, which is part of the government’s broader strategy to strengthen revenue mobilisation while ensuring affordability and sustainability.

The new fee proposals, he said, were guided by inflation adjustment, affordability considerations, revenue mobilisation, user feedback and comparative analysis.

“Comparative analysis shows Botswana’s fees remain among the lowest in the region, and benchmarking against Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa confirms the need for alignment,” he said.

Among the key adjustments are increases in tourism enterprises’ licencing fees, with citizen operators protected through differentiated charges. Wildlife and National Parks fees have been revised to reflect inflation and conservation financing needs.

For example, Minister Mmolotsi said citizen park entry fees had been proposed to increase from P30 to P50, while non-resident fees would increase from P380 to P500. While research and filming permits have been proposed to be adjusted to reflect operational costs, with commercial filming permits ranging from P20,000 to P50,000.

“As an outcome of the consultation process, some of the proposed fees that this meeting agrees on will take effect from 1st April 2026,” he said, adding that some would require amendment of applicable regulations and later gazetting for public consumption.

Minister Mmolotsi told stakeholders that the adjustments were not simply about raising fees, but about strengthening tourism and environmental management systems, ensuring sustainability, and aligning with international best practices.

He assured stakeholders that the ministry recognised the concerns raised and was willing to listen, clarify, and work with them to ensure that the revised fees were fair, transparent, and effective, while securing the financial sustainability of the sector.

The Department of Tourism director, Mr Lopang Pule, noted that the prices were not set in stone and stressed the need to periodically review costs in the sector.

“We are getting feedback from our institutions and stakeholders, some are saying your costs are too low,” he said, adding that the review was part of the government’s cost recovery.

However, participants opined that some of the proposed fees were too steep, which could lead to some agents cancelling their bookings, thus reasoning that there was a need for more time before they could be implemented.

The Hospitality and Tourism Association of Botswana (HATAB) chief executive officer, Ms Lily Rakorong, noted that the increase in fees should also be matched with quality service from the ministry.

Mr Kenson Kgaga of the Botswana Guides Association (BOGA) pointed out that some fee increments could make it difficult for them to operate, adding that tour operators, other than paying for their industry fees, had to pay for salaries and other taxes. BOPA