Industry players have hailed Ethiopian Airlines’ new flight linking East Africa (Addis Ababa) to Maun, Botswana – location of prime tourism hotspot, the Okavango Delta – as a ‘game changer’ for tourism in the country.

The airline has commenced three times weekly services to Maun, its second destination in Botswana. Gaborone was the first.

Miriam Tichapondwa, Wilderness Botswana COO, expressed excitement about the new flight, saying the increased ease of access would stimulate more travel to Botswana.

“The convenience of air connectivity to destinations is a major factor that influences travel decisions for our guests, and direct access to Maun, the tourism capital of Botswana, is a huge advantage. This is also significant as it aligns perfectly with the nation’s goals of promoting Botswana as a destination of choice to regional and international markets,” said Tichapondwa.

She said Wilderness was anticipating an increase in tourist numbers from key source markets, which would boost the local economy, and that Botswana would be more accessible to business and leisure travellers.

Dave van Smeerdijk, Co-founder and Co-CEO of Natural Selection, said the new flight would further highlight Botswana's wildlife, incredible landscape, conservation and culture. “We hope that the flights will become daily some time soon.”

Jillian Blackbeard, CEO of Africa’s Eden, said previously, Maun was primarily serviced by short regional connections, making this direct, long-haul option a game changer for international tourists.

“By saving a full day of travel time, visitors can now spend more time experiencing the Okavango Delta's unique offerings, potentially increasing their length of stay.

“Furthermore, the increased capacity directly addresses the current underutilisation of Botswana's tourism potential, which has been limited by the low volume of seats available on existing flights,” said Blackbeard.

She said the direct route was also a more sustainable option, reducing the carbon footprint of travellers and appealing to environmentally conscious tourists.