In an effort to raise funds to improve Botswana's tourism sector, their Ministry of Environment Natural Resources’ Conservation and Tourism through the Botswana Tourism Organisation is introducing a Tourism Development Levy to be paid by visitors to Botswana.
From the 1st of June (2017), all visitors to Botswana with the exception of residence from Southern African Development Community (SADC), will be required to pay US$30 at their point of entry, be it one of the border posts or airport.
Electronic facilities accepting cash, credit and debit cards will ease the process of payment on arrival. Visitors are issued a receipt corresponding to the passport, which should be presented to the immigration officer for stamping, together with the passport. The payment receipt can be used for multiple re-entry for as long as it is valid - up to 30 days.
This development means that those in Victoria Falls or Livingstone who would like to visit Chobe (even for a day trip) must prepare to pay the US$30 at the border, and this is separate from the Chobe National Park entrance fee which is specifically for Chobe National Park.
UPDATE: 26 May 2017
Children under the age of 10 years will not be required to pay the US$30 tourism levy.
SADC citizens are those that come from Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe
UPDATE 17 August 2017
Since the announcement of the Botswana Tourism Levy, it has been put on hold until further notice, so at the moment, tourists to Botswana can hold onto their US$30. Read more ...
UPDATE 11 December 2017
The Botswana Tourism Development Levy has been cancelled. For the full story, click here.
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