Botswana’s Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism Tshekedi Khama said he looks forward to the support of the country’s new government led by President Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi.

Khama said Masisi has always been helpful even before his presidential tenure. “He will sometimes see that we would want to do something for tourism, and then he will say requests from Minister Khama are good, we should look at them. It’s new opportunities, it’s new horizons,” said Khama.

Khama was re-appointed the minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism following a cabinet reshuffle this week. He said he is trying to bring the tourism development levy back to parliament, which was intended to sustain tourism facilities, but was suspended last year.

Botswana’s new President took over from Ian Khama who has been at the helm of the country since 2008.

In his inauguration speech Masisi said tourism has great potential to diversify the economy.

“With regard to the tourism sector which has potential to significantly contribute to the growth and diversification of the economy of this country, we will continue to monitor adherence to the Tourism Regulations of 1996 to accommodate the reservation of some license category for our citizens which will subsequently increase their participation in tourism. This government will additionally rejuvenate capacity of citizens to participate more meaningfully in this sector,” he concluded.