Botswana Wins Bid for AviaDev 2026: New Routes and Tourism Boom Predicted

Botswana is set to become the aviation hub of Africa in 2026, hosting the prestigious AviaDev Africa conference. This strategic move promises to unlock exciting new opportunities for travel agents across the continent. The announcement, made during the closing ceremony of the 2025 AviaDev conference in Zanzibar, signals a significant step forward for Botswana's aviation and tourism sectors.

AviaDev Africa, renowned for connecting airlines, airports, tourism boards, and investors, offers a unique platform for collaboration and deal-making. With a strong focus on route development, the event is expected to drive intra-African connectivity, boosting trade, tourism, and investment across the continent. This presents a golden opportunity for travel agents to capitalize on expanding networks and offer clients exciting new travel options.

Dr. Bao Mosinyi, CEO of the Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana (CAAB), emphasized the transformative potential of increased connectivity. He highlighted studies showing that a 10% rise in connectivity can lead to a 1% GDP boost, translating into growth, job creation, and increased investment for Botswana. This positive economic ripple effect is expected to benefit the entire tourism value chain, including travel agents.

Botswana's successful bid reflects a collaborative effort involving CAAB, Botswana Air Access, Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO), Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC), and other key stakeholders. Their compelling proposal showcased the country's logistical readiness and national vision. Site inspections impressed evaluators, demonstrating Botswana's capacity and hospitality, further solidified by the seamless management of a concurrent major conference at the Gaborone International Convention Centre.

AviaDev CEO Jon Howell praised Botswana's preparedness, ambition, and collaborative spirit, highlighting the highly competitive nature of the bidding process. Hosting AviaDev 2026 aligns perfectly with Botswana's broader development agenda, particularly its focus on economic diversification and regional integration.

Dr. Mosinyi stressed the importance of air connectivity as a catalyst for economic transformation. He advocated for streamlined access to Botswana, including visa-on-arrival policies for African states, echoing a key theme from the 2025 conference: removing structural barriers like visa restrictions to promote seamless travel within Africa. Citing Rwanda's successful visa liberalization, he noted that even a modest 17% increase in arrivals could boost Botswana's airport traffic to over a million passengers annually.

Botswana's aviation infrastructure has undergone significant improvements, with all major international airports achieving ICAO certification and a commendable safety score of 85.78%. The focus now shifts to expanding connectivity, attracting major international carriers like Qatar Airways and Emirates, and fostering a wider network of regional and continental routes. This presents lucrative opportunities for travel agents to partner with airlines and offer diverse travel packages.

The 2026 event is poised to catalyze private sector growth, engaging entrepreneurs, hoteliers, SMEs, and tourism operators. Dr. Mosinyi encouraged local businesses to actively participate in AviaDev, recognizing its potential to unlock opportunities for suppliers, youth, and investors. Travel agents can leverage this platform to connect with local businesses, curate unique experiences, and offer personalized services to their clients.

AviaDev Africa, a specialized forum dedicated to expanding air connectivity in Africa, connects key decision-makers through pre-arranged meetings, presentations, and panel discussions. The 2025 edition in Zanzibar focused on sustainability, route development, and visa policy reforms, setting the stage for a transformative event in Botswana. Travel agents are encouraged to attend AviaDev 2026 to network, explore new partnerships, and gain valuable insights into the evolving African aviation landscape.

As anticipation builds, Botswana prepares not just to host an event, but to lead a continental conversation on how enhanced air access can drive progress and prosperity for all. This presents a unique opportunity for African travel agents to be at the forefront of this exciting transformation.