Ndaba Gaolathe tells tourism players to work or get left behind

The tourism crowd pulled up in force, and the message is clear: Botswana wants tourism hustling harder and working smarter.

What is happening on the ground

• Basically, Adansonia Convention Centre is packed with tourism players who all showed up for Tourism Pitso 2026
• The meetup runs for two days and pulls in government, private operators, tour companies, and hospitality crews
• The building turned into a full-on networking zone with deal talk and idea swapping everywhere

Why is everyone here

• Tourism Pitso 2026 is framed around tourism, pushing economic change and sustainable growth through partnerships
• Job creation and community benefits sit at the center of the conversation
• Growth is being treated as something that has to last, not spike and disappear

What sessions are digging into

• Conversations are circling innovation, collaboration, and smarter growth paths
• Public and private players are being pushed to work closer together instead of in parallel
• Competitiveness on the global stage keeps coming up as a pressure point

Big opening moment

• The official kickoff comes from Ndaba Gaolathe
• His address is expected to lean into investment support and policy direction
• Pulling in international visitors is clearly on the priority list

Government tone on tourism

• Tourism is being positioned as a serious economic engine
• Inclusive growth is part of the pitch, with rural communities and small businesses in focus
• The presence of leadership signals commitment, not vibes

What participants are actually doing

• Workshops and panels are breaking down real industry challenges
• Exhibitions are putting Botswana’s tourism range on display
• Marketing, digital shifts, sustainability, and skills development are all getting airtime

Networking and deal-making

• The Pitso doubles as a matchmaking space for partnerships
• Service delivery and competitiveness are being treated like shared problems
• Connections made here are meant to outlive the event

Why this matters long term

• Tourism Pitso 2026 is being treated like a turning point
• The sector is being pushed toward collaboration instead of fragmentation
• The bigger goal is positioning Botswana as a tourism player that actually delivers