GOVERNMENT COMPELS THE TOURISM INDUSTRY TO RESPOND TO CONTROVERSIAL SERVICE FEES WITHIN A WEEK TO CLEAR THE WAY FOR GAZETTING.

The Ministry of Environment and Tourism has given the Tourism industry until the 26^th of February to comment on the proposed user fees for services rendered by the Ministry and departments. This followed a heated meeting with the industry players in Gaborone at which the Ministry sought to get input on new fees which the Ministry wants to effect on 1^st April 2026. Industry representatives including, the Botswana Guides Association, BOGA, the Hospitality and Tourism Association of Botswana, HATAB, Ngamiland Council of Non-Governmental Organisations, NCONGO, Botswana Wildlife Producers Association (BWPA) and other sub sector representatives raised concern that they were not consulted on the new charges which see the majority of services hiked by more than three hundred percent. They said they were never consulted when the fees were determined and only saw the figures in a leaked document early this year. The issue was also brought up at the recent Tourism Pitso, leading to an apology by the Vice President and Minister of Finance Ndaba Gaolathe and a commitment by the Minister of Environment Wynter Mmolotsi to form an industry consultation forum that would meet regularly. But the controversy over the proposed fees led to threats by BOGA to sue the Ministry. The Chairman of BOGA Mr. Kenson Kgaga threatened to pull out of the consultation meeting on Thursday stating that they could not effectively represent their members on a document that they had not officially been given to consider. The Ministry however insisted that the discussions go ahead with a promise to engage with the various sub sector associations within a week to agree on both the quantum and the implementation schedule. The Ministry is time pressed to publish the figures before they come into effect but could not do so without taking the industry on board.

 Minister Mmolotsi told the gathering at the Mass Media Complex that some of the fees had not been reviewed since 2019. He said inflation and the escalating costs of providing the services had outstripped the fees levied by the Ministry and departments. The Ministry explained that consideration of the new fees included adjustment based on average historical inflation, alignment with current market prices and regional standards, user feedback, cost recovery requirements, benchmarking and comparative analysis and enhanced facilities and services.

 Industry players were however adamant that the quantum of some of the charges was too steep and abrupt. While they acknowledged that there was need to review the charges they insisted that the current process would significantly impact their businesses because most operators had already sold packages for the coming year based on the current charges. It would therefore not be possible to expect the clients to pay more than they had already been charged.

The proposed figures see a jump of licenses under category A which includes Bed and Breakfast, Guest House, Campsite, Hotel, Cultural Village and Self Catering by an average three hundred percent. The biggest jump being for Hotel, Cultural Village from 1000 (one thousand pula) to 5,500 (five thousand five hundred pula). Under B category which includes Lodges, Camp and Campsite, the proposed annual license fees will increase by an average of more than five times with lodges jumping from 1500 (one thousand five hundred pula) to 10000  (ten thousand pula) annually and Campsite jumping from 1500 (one thousand five hundred pula  to 5000 (five thousand pula). Substantial increases are also proposed for services such as duplication, transfer and amendment of licenses. Other significant increases proposed include hunting licenses for some of the in demand species such as Buffalo, Elephant, Gemsbok, and Leopard. Buffalo will increase by 100% from 25000 to 50000 (fifty thousand pula) elephant from 70000 to 100000 (hundred thousand pula), Gemsbok from 15000 (fifteen thousand pula) to 25000 (twenty five thousand pula) and Leopard from 50000 (fifty thousand to 80000 (eighty thousand pula).Botswana Wildlife Producers Association haven requested that implementation the proposed fees be moved to the 2027 hunting season because hunting packages for 2026 have already been agreed and sold.

The proposed adjustments will also apply to services such as park entry fees, monuments and other open spaces, research applications, video reels and other related services. On the latter, the Ministry has agreed to engage with the filming industry for deeper consultation. There are unconfirmed reports that some of the foreign film makers who have been operating in the delta and Chobe region are threatening to relocate to neighboring countries due to the steep charges.

Minister Mmolotsi informed the industry that the adjustments did not apply to the tourism industry only but across the whole of Government. It is expected that following presentation by the different sub sectors, government would Gazette the revised fees to pave the way for implementation.