Botswana authorities have raised concern over a growing trend in which more Batswana are opting to travel to Namibia for tourism instead of visiting domestic destinations.

This is despite the fact that the neighbouring country is best known for its legendary Okavango Delta and plentiful wildlife.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Abigail Khumoyame, made this lamentation while appearing before the Standing Committee on Government Assurances Examination in Gaborone.

According to figures from the 2024 tourist statistical report, Botswana is one of the top ten source countries that contribute the largest number of tourists to Namibia, amounting to 123,276.

Khumoyame said her ministry, through the Department of Tourism, has embarked on a fact-finding mission to find out what Namibia is offering that is attracting Batswana locally which is not offered in their country.

"We are trying our level best to promote domestic tourism. But we are facing difficulties. Preliminary investigations have established that Batswana prefer Namibia to domestic tourism. Now, we are searching for the reasons why Batswana are shunning local tourism for Namibia. We want to know what Namibia is offering and is not being offered locally."

Last November, Swakopmund was named Africa's Best Adventure Tourism Destination at the 2025 Africa Tourism Awards.

The award has further evolved this coastal town from a sleepy German colonial outpost into a vibrant hub of tourism, creativity, and commerce.