The Botswana Tourism Organisation is working towards introducing a new tourism development levy.

Keitumetse Setlang, Public Relations Manager at BTO, told Tourism Update in an interview that consultations with key stakeholders were on-going and could not share in-depth details. “It is still a work in progress and we would rather share about it when all the processes and necessary consultations have been done.”

Thabo Dithebe, BTO’s outgoing CEO, had previously revealed that the proposed Botswana tourism development levy would see tourists outside the SADC area paying US$30 upon entry to the country. The payment would be done online through BTO’s website or from a kiosk at any port of entry. The funds would be used to develop more tourism products.

Hospitality and Tourism Association of Botswana Chairman, Dr Thapelo Matsheka, heavily criticised the levy at a conference held in Gaborone this year.