This paper evaluates the impacts of Botswana’s Tourism Policy of 1990 on tourism development in the
Okavango Delta. This evaluation is selective and based on specific clauses of the policy which focus on
the following: the general and specific objectives, tourism marketing, local participation and localization
of tourism enterprises. Secondary and primary data sources collected between 1998 and 2005 were used
in the study. The results indicate that due to other factors such as the return of political stability in Southern
Africa in the 1980s and 1990s and the global improvement in the transport and communication systems,
the implementation of the policy in the Okavango Delta led to an increase in tourist numbers and segments,
gross domestic product, government revenue and employment opportunities. The implementation of the
policy coupled with poor tourism planning has also led to enclave tourism which is characterised by a
predominantly foreign owned tourism industry. Other noticeable effects include poor waste management
and overcrowding of tourism facilities. The lack of policy guidelines and inadequate monitoring of
environmental impacts have resulted in tourism development threatening the ecological integrity of the
Okavango Delta. Future tourism policy initiatives should, therefore, include the ideals of sustainable
tourism development in design and implementation.