MAUN – Botswana is likely to develop more tourists’ aviation routes as the national airline – Air Botswana is set to acquire three new aircrafts to replace its aged fleet.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Communications, Obakeng Mosigi made the revelation at the just ended Hospitality and Tourism Association of Botswana (HATAB) conference that was held here.
Currently, Air Botswana operates flights from Gaborone, Francistown, and Johannesburg to the tourism destinations Maun and Kasane.
Mosigi says “Air Botswana has acquired one Jet and 2 ATRs and we are expecting them before end of this year.”
Meanwhile, other initiatives that MTC is currently working on to improve the transport sector is the development of national transport strategy which will be the first of its kind.
Kasane Airport which has been under upliftment was concluded and handed last month, and the Maun Airport is underway for refurbishment.
The Ministry is also working on the review of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAAB) Act, which currently operates by an Act of 2004; which mandates CAAB to promote aviation safety and security and ensure the regular and efficient use and development of Civil Aviation in Botswana.
Road transport Act will also be reviewed, as well as harmonization of transport legislations with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. There is also the development a national multi modal transport master plan; develop a regional integration strategy in transport, as well as signing of the Bilateral Air Service Agreements (BASAs) and road transport agreement. These are some of the key policies and projects identified under the Transport Hub which was established in recent years- to identify and coordinate key projects and policy interventions required in the transport sector in order to develop Botswana as a transport hub within the SADC region. The goal is to transform the transport and logistics industry into a major growth sector to stimulate economic diversification of the country.
The Ministry is also working to develop corridors that link Botswana with other countries in the region, in addition to the Walvis Bay port, the on-going Kazungula bridge amongst others.