HATAB chief rejects claims Botswana loses most tourist revenue overseas

Sunday Standard HATAB chief rejects claims Botswana loses most tourist revenue overseas Botswana’s tourism industry has pushed back against long-standing claims that most of the money spent by international visitors never reaches the country’s economy, arguing that only a fraction is retained abroad in the form of travel agent commissions. Hospitality and Tourism Association of Botswana (HATAB) Chairman, Lawrence Lecha, said perceptions that safari operators funnel the bulk […] The post HATAB chief rejects claims Botswana loses most tourist revenue overseas first appeared on Sunday Standard and is written by Sunday Standard Reporter

Jul 14, 2026 - 09:24

Sunday Standard

HATAB chief rejects claims Botswana loses most tourist revenue overseas

Botswana’s tourism industry has pushed back against long-standing claims that most of the money spent by international visitors never reaches the country’s economy, arguing that only a fraction is retained abroad in the form of travel agent commissions.

Hospitality and Tourism Association of Botswana (HATAB) Chairman, Lawrence Lecha, said perceptions that safari operators funnel the bulk of tourist payments overseas are inaccurate and risk undermining one of the country’s most important foreign currency earners.

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