375. Gateway to Opportunities: Botswana's connectivity ambitions with Capt. Thuto Toise, CEO, Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana (CAAB)

In this episode, we host Capt. Thuto Toise, the newly appointed CEO of the Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana, to discuss Botswana's aviation ambitions and its strategic decision to host AviaDev Africa 2026. Capt. Toise explains how improved air connectivity can drive economic growth through tourism, trade, investment, and regional integration, and why bringing airlines and decision-makers to Botswana enables meaningful route-development discussions. He outlines the Botswana Air Access initiative, launched in August 2024, which unites CAAB, tourism and hospitality bodies, travel agencies, investment authorities, and Air Botswana to deliver a coordinated, data-driven approach including incentives, market intelligence, and joint marketing. They explore priorities such as stronger domestic networks, expanded links to Africa, and direct long-haul services, while highlighting Botswana's unique landscapes, culture, and hospitality for visiting delegates.  01:08 Meet Captain Toise 02:24 Why Host AviaDev 2026? 05:05 An introduction to Botswana Air Access 07:00 Botswana's Air Connectivity Priorities 10:10 Botswana's Pitch to Airlines 13:20 The delegate experience in Botswana 16:39 Closing