Why it Matters
- Aviation is central to Botswana’s plan to diversify its economy beyond minerals, with the BETP positioning air transport as a strategic enabler of trade, tourism and investment.
- Air cargo expansion, currently underutilised, would unlock value for exporters in high-growth sectors such as horticulture, pharmaceuticals and specialised manufacturing.
- Modernising Maun and Kasane airports is critical for sustaining Botswana’s high-value tourism model, which relies heavily on efficient, reliable access to wildlife destinations.
- Airport PPP frameworks could mobilise private capital and expertise, improving operational performance while reducing the government’s upfront infrastructure burden.
Botswana is stepping up efforts to modernise its aviation sector as part of the broader Botswana Economic Transformation Programme (BETP), which aims to accelerate the country’s shift toward a diversified, export-led economy by 2036. With the tourism industry identified as one of the high-impact sectors, improvements in air connectivity, cargo capacity, and aviation infrastructure have taken centre stage.
Although the national carrier Air Botswana has long dominated the domestic market, with a market share above 45% as of 2020, the airline has faced structural challenges, including limited routes, high costs, and competition from regional operators. The BETP now seeks to reposition aviation as a strategic enabler of growth by improving efficiency and attracting private-sector participation.
A flagship initiative under the programme is the proposed Air Botswana Cargo Expansion, aimed at bolstering the country’s air logistics capacity. Air cargo is currently underutilised in Botswana, despite rapid growth in sectors such as horticulture, pharmaceuticals, and high-value manufacturing. Expanding cargo operations would support exporters and reduce dependence on road-based routes through neighbouring countries.
The report said airport PPPs can explore concession, availability payment models or more creative performance-based agreements to ensure optimal return. The private partner can earn revenue from lease payments and facility user fees or service charges from vendors, while the airport authority avoids upfront capital outlay and gains new infrastructure.
The tourism sector, a major pillar of Botswana’s service economy, stands to benefit significantly from aviation reforms. In 2023, the country recorded 1.18 million visitors, and the BETP targets even higher arrivals by 2033. Enhanced air access to tourist hotspots, including Maun, Kasane, and the Okavango Delta, will be crucial to sustaining the country’s high-value, low-volume tourism model. Policy reforms to ease visa processing and improve airport infrastructure form part of the wider enabling environment for aviation growth.
Infrastructure gaps remain a key challenge. Botswana’s airports, particularly Maun and Kasane, require technological upgrades and expanded passenger-handling capacity to meet rising tourist demand. The government is also considering operational reforms, such as public-private partnerships to manage airport facilities.
With Botswana targeting BWP 514 billion in cumulative investment across all sectors by 2036, aviation is positioned as a cross-cutting enabler. Strengthening air transport links will support not only tourism but also trade, manufacturing, mining, and digital services.
As the BETP enters its implementation phase, industry experts say disciplined execution will determine whether Botswana can transform its aviation sector into a competitive regional hub. With tourism rebounding, trade corridors opening, and private investors being courted, Botswana sees aviation as an essential lever in its journey toward high-income status.
