The Namibia Tourism Board (NTB) strengthened Namibia’s regional tourism presence in July through a high-level tourism and business engagement programme held in Gaborone, Botswana, from 23–24 July 2026, aimed at increasing destination visibility, strengthening tourism trade relations and creating opportunities for greater cross-border travel between Namibia and Botswana.
The two-day programme, organised in collaboration with the High Commission of the Republic of Namibia to Botswana and the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB), brought together the diplomatic community, investors, government institutions and tourism trade stakeholders. NTB Chief Executive Officer Sebulon Chicalu presented Destination Namibia, highlighting the country’s diverse tourism experiences, conservation successes, cultural heritage, adventure and eco-tourism offerings, hospitality sector and opportunities for tourism investment.
A major highlight was the B2B Tourism Stakeholder Engagement, which attracted approximately 72 tourism trade partners from Botswana, including tour operators, travel agents, booking agents, accommodation establishments, car-rental businesses and other tourism service providers. Discussions focused on developing stronger trade partnerships and exploring opportunities to package and cross-sell tourism experiences across Namibia and Botswana.
The programme also included a Namibia Destination Update for the Diplomatic Corps, where Heads of Mission, diplomats, international organisations and tourism stakeholders were introduced to Namibia’s tourism offerings and regional connectivity. Presentations on aviation connectivity and the overall status of tourism within the SADC region further highlighted the importance of improved access and stronger regional cooperation in growing intra-African tourism.
From engagement to action
Importantly, the Gaborone engagement generated clear follow-up opportunities. NTB envisages entering into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO) to support joint destination marketing and tourism trade initiatives. The proposed collaboration includes a joint digital marketing campaign ahead of the December 2026–January 2027 peak travel period, aimed at encouraging travellers to explore both countries as part of a broader multi-destination Southern African experience.
Further plans identified in the report include hosting Botswana tour operators in Windhoek during the Namibia Travel Market Expo in December 2026, incorporating B2B networking, route and package development, knowledge sharing and joint masterclasses. These initiatives are intended to translate stakeholder engagement into bookable tourism products and increased visitor movement between the two countries.
The engagement concluded with a familiarisation tour of Gaborone’s historical and cultural attractions for Namibian tourism trade participants. The experience provided operators with first-hand exposure to Botswana’s heritage tourism products and opportunities to identify experiences that could potentially form part of future Namibia–Botswana cross-border itineraries.