08 Jul 2026

Botswana has launched its first Tourism Satellite Account, a milestone expected to strengthen the country's ability to measure, manage and grow the tourism sector through reliable data.

Officially launching the satellite account analysis for the period 2020–2024 in Gaborone on July 7, Minister of Environment and Tourism, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi described the development as a defining moment in Botswana's journey to better understand tourism as a driver of sustainable development.

He said the  satellite account was more than a statistical achievement, adding that it would provide the country with a powerful tool to assess, grow and develop the tourism sector.

Mr Mmolotsi said the account would, for the first time, provide a comprehensive analysis of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the tourism industry, revealing the disruption of livelihoods, the decline in visitor arrivals and the strain placed on the sector. At the same time, he said, it would also demonstrate the industry's recovery, adaptation and resilience.

He explained that the account was the most comprehensive and internationally recognised framework for measuring tourism's contribution to the economy. Unlike conventional tourism statistics, he said, it integrated tourism into the System of National Accounts, enabling the country to accurately measure tourism's contribution to gross domestic product, employment, investment and foreign exchange earnings.

The minister also launched the 2025 Inbound Visitor Survey Report, saying it provided detailed information on visitor spending patterns collected at Botswana's busiest points of entry and exit. He said the report would help improve tourism products, enhance competitiveness and increase benefits for local communities.

Mr Mmolotsi further launched the Tourism Statistics System (T-STATS) and its mobile application, saying the innovation would modernise tourism data collection by enabling operators and stakeholders to submit information in real time. He said this would improve the timeliness, reliability and accessibility of tourism statistics while providing the foundation for future annual TSA compilations.

He said the satellite account, the Inbound Visitor Survey Report and T-STATS formed a suite of tools that would provide comprehensive information on tourism's contribution to the economy, visitor behaviour and real-time industry reporting.

The minister called on the private sector to use the new data to innovate, improve competitiveness and attract investment, while encouraging communities to use the information to strengthen their participation in tourism development.

He reaffirmed the government's commitment to strengthening tourism statistics through investment in people, technology and partnerships, saying reliable data led to informed decision-making and a stronger tourism sector.

Mr Mmolotsi also thanked Statistics Botswana, Bank of Botswana and the Ministry of Finance for supporting the successful implementation of the project. ENDS