International delegates interested in participating in the summit, please get in touch with the ITIC team.
General News and Information
Press Release
The Botswana Tourism Investment Summit aims to spotlight the country as an economic tiger in the making for its untapped tourism and investment opportunities.
The highly anticipated ‘Botswana Tourism Investment Summit’ hosted by International Tourism Investment Corporation Ltd (ITIC – www.itic.uk) in partnership with Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO) will be held in Gaborone, Botswana on 22-24 November 2023 and will aim to highlight the country’s strong potential and untapped tourism and investment opportunities.
The Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO) and International Tourism and Investment Conference (ITIC), in collaboration with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) have today announced that the upcoming ITIC Tourism Investment Summit will take place in Gaborone, Botswana on 22-24 November 2023. The two-day Summit is expected to act as a catalyst for unlocking investment opportunities for Botswana which remains a relatively unexploited tourist region.
Over the last few years, Botswana has been actively shifting to another stage of its economic development. The country is strongly positioned in the heart of southern Africa as a gateway to South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Namibia – effectively a conduit for investors to do business with the rest of Southern Africa. A conducive environment will be rolled out to accelerate the impact of foreign investment and tourism within Botswana that has become the future engine of growth and is Africa’s longest surviving democracy since independence with a stable and prosperous economy.
Speaking ahead of the Summit, Hon. Philda Nani Kereng, Minister of Environment and Tourism of Botswana, said: “Botswana opens its doors to international sustainable investment opportunities that, till now, have been relatively untapped. Our mission is to provoke new thinking and explore new opportunities and financial mechanisms for sustainable investments in travel and tourism and business. We are honoured to host the Botswana Tourism Investment Summit organised by ITIC and with a landscape like no other, we strongly encourage policy makers and investors not to underestimate the potential of one of the most beautiful countries within Africa. Rated Africa’s best safari destination 2023, the Summit propels investments towards building Botswana as a destination of choice for business”.
The Botswana Tourism Investment Summit and Exhibition will host approximately 300-400 tourism and financial services CEOs and business elites who will deliver an unrivalled combination of thought-provoking content and extraordinary networking opportunities. This will bring together international leaders and project developers in the tourism, travel and hospitality sectors and connect them with investors from private equity firms, investment banks, institutional investors, fund managers and influencers, who have the power to channel capital and to raise funds to invest in sustainable tourism projects.
The Summit will see some of the best specialists explore the current trends and discuss the future of the tourism industry in Botswana. This was reiterated by IFC – International Finance Corporation’s acting Country Manager for Botswana, Indira Campos, who said, “Tourism is a key enabling sector in Botswana with high potential for growth and can help create jobs, reduce inequality, and contribute to diversifying the economy. IFC is committed to supporting efforts to further develop Botswana’s tourism sector by attracting private investment into lodges and other tourism-related infrastructure, including transport, hotels, camp and caravan sites, and food and hospitality services.”
IFC, a member of the World Bank, promotes private sector development in emerging markets, and its work in the tourism sector is a key part of that mission. IFC provides financing and advisory services to help businesses in this sector grow and create jobs, while also promoting sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
Furthermore, Dr. Taleb Rifai, Chairman of ITIC & former Secretary General of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation said: “We are delighted that Botswana has been recognised for the vast investment potential available to potential stakeholders. The country’s financial and capital markets are among the most sophisticated in Africa, and our Summit provides the opportune platform to drive international awareness and further investment into Botswana and act as a catalyst for growth.
About the organisers
ITIC UK
The London UK-based ITIC Ltd (International Tourism and Investment Conference) acts as an enabler between the tourism industry and leaders of the financial services to facilitate and structure investments in sustainable tourism projects, infrastructures and services that will benefit to destinations, project developers and the local communities through social inclusion and shared growth.
ITIC team undertakes extensive research to shed new light and perspectives on tourism investment opportunities in the regions in which we operate. In addition to our conferences, we also provides project management and financial advisory services to destinations and tourism developers.
To find out more about ITIC and its conferences in Cape Town (Africa); Bulgaria (CEE & SEE regions); Dubai (Middle East); Jamaica (Caribbean), London UK (Global Destinations) and elsewhere please visit www.itic.uk
Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO)
Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO) is a parastatal established through an act of parliament under the Ministry of Environment and Tourism. It is mandated to market and position Botswana as a premier tourist destination; promote investment in the tourism sector; and to grade and classify tourism facilities. BTO shall do all things necessary to market and promote Botswana tourist attractions, encourage and facilitate trave by local and foreign tourist to the said attractions.
Stemming from its mandate, investment facilitation initiatives are carried out with the aim of increasing the contribution of tourism to the nation’s economic growth through promoting the expansion of existing tourist enterprises and new investments in the tourism sector. It contributes to citizen economic empowerment and poverty alleviation by facilitating increased citizen participation in tourism value chains and diversify the tourism sector both in terms of geographic location and product.
Through the BTO Act of 2009, it provides that all tourist enterprises licensed under the Tourism Act of 2009 shall be graded. The grading system serves as a useful marketing tool in indicating to travel agents, tour operators, and tourists in general the quality of service in areas, as a basis for deciding which facilities to select before starting a journey to any particular destination. The system also provides a framework to industry investors in designing their facilities to attract the desired market groups.
International Finance Corporation (IFC)
IFC — a member of the World Bank Group — is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets.
We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries.
In fiscal year 2023, IFC committed a record $43.7 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity as economies grapple with the impacts of global compounding crises.
For more information, visit www.ifc.org
Message
Hon. Phildah Nani Kereng
Minister of Environment and Tourism
Republic of Botswana
“ Dear Tourism Partners and Prospective Investors,
I wish to warmly welcome you in Gaborone for the Botswana Tourism Investment Summit.
I feel confident that you will seize the untapped opportunities in the tourism sector of my country which offer great potential and lucrative returns to investors.
Foreign Direct Investment will play a fundamental role in energizing Botswana’s economy and further contribute to its sustainable development while ensuring the social inclusion of all so that no-one is left by the side of the path of economic growth.
According to latest available statistics, our tourism sector accounts for 4.64% of my country’s GDP and for 8.4% of total employment. Furthermore, before the COVID-19 outbreak, Botswana attracted 1.83 million international travellers and generated receipts amounting to US$ 572 million.
Our destination has always been acknowledged as safe and stable both for foreign visitors and for investments. In addition, our economic fundamentals are all positive. Botswana stands out in Africa as an upper-middle-income with a GDP per capita of US$ 6,700.9 nowadays, backed by strong institutions upholding good governance and driven by a pool of a young, highly skilled and educated workforce.
We share boundaries with 4 countries (Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe) and this unique geo-strategic location confers to Botswana its strong positioning as a promising business and financial hub in the Southern Africa region.
You will certainly be interested in reaping the benefits of my country’s membership to several regional economic blocs such as the Southern African Development Community which gives access to more than 345 million consumers, the Southern African Customs Union and the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement.
Botswana also provides attractive incentives and liberal policies for investment, and I sincerely hope that all these appealing factors will positively influence your investment decision-making. ”
Travel Information
Self DrivingCamping
Embarking on a camping trip in Botswana requires a good deal of planning and preparation. You will be going to remote areas, accessible only by four-wheel drive, where water, petrol or food may not be available.
Time To Visit
Botswana is an all-year round destination. The two distinctive seasons give varied all round terrific experiences.
Going Green
Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO) promotes best practice management systems across all tourism industry sectors to facilitate environmentally sustainable tourism development.
Why attend?
Explore highly relevant plenary sessions led by the Honourable Minister of Environment and Tourism, Botswana Government bodies as well as the industry’s top experts and thought leaders representing a wide range of disciplines within the tourism and financial services industries.
Unrivalled networking opportunities:
- Multilateral investors/tourism developers meetings.
- Build business relationships within the Global Tourism Private Sector
Have access to:
- Development finance for Multilateral and development bank project pipeline owners.
- Government officials responsible for the implementation of priority projects.
Who will attend?
The Summit will be attended by:
- Heads of State
- Tourism Ministers
- Government Bodies and Policymakers
- Destination Management Companies/li>
- Hoteliers & Airline Companies
- Tourism & Hotel Project Developersv
- International Tourism Brands
- Finance Institutions & Investment Banks
- Fintech and Technology service providers
- Private Equity Firms and Institutional Investors
- International Tourism Groups and other targeted stakeholder
Delegates will have the chance to attend, visit and participate in:
- Networking sessions to seize projects and expressions of interest & to develop LOIs and MOUs.
- Access to development finance for project pipeline owners.
- Access to government officials responsible for the implementation of priority projects.
- Parallel sessions presenting national project insights.
- Investors speed networking for those looking into advanced talks on opportunities.
- Build business relationships with tourism developers and international partners.
Vibrant Tourism Outlook
The travel and tourism industry of Botswana contributed 12.5% of the country’s GDP before the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. It has since recovered rapidly, bouncing back to 8% and 7.7% of Botswana’s total jobs in 2021. The sector is a major source of foreign currencies with 515 million US dollars flowing in last year (26% of total exports). The future looks bright as the country is diversifying its inbound tourism markets from its traditional Southern African base to European countries.
Steering Committee
Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism Botswana more…
Meet our Steering Committee Members
WTTC Ambassador,
Former Chairman of WTTC, Former President & Group CEO of Jumeirah Group more…
ITIC Organiser &
CEO Daiichi Display more…
Executive Chairman
Africa Tourism Board
more…
Chairman
Port of London Authority more…
Professor of Globalisation and Development
University of Oxford & Former Vice-President, World Bank more…
and other selected leaders of the Travel and Tourism & Financial Services sectors to join the Steering Committee
