Positive developments in the tourism sector
Namibia recorded the highest national occupancy rate since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.
According to Simonis Storm (SS), a 39.4% national occupancy rate was recorded during May 2022, compared to 36.5% in the prior month and 25.1% in May 2021.
Year-to-date, the national occupancy rate averages 29.1%, compared to 22.5% for the same period in 2021, showing an improvement in bookings made with nationwide hospitality establishments.
The significant increase could be attributed to aggressive marketing by various stakeholders in attracting foreigners to Namibia, declining Covid-19 cases globally and new airline routes to Namibia being offered, Simonis said.
The proportion of Namibian visitors at local establishments remains on a declining trend, where 30.6% of guests were Namibians during May 2022, compared to 37.7%during the prior month and 83.3% in the second quarter of 2020, SS said.
“As specials to locals disappear and tourist inflows improve, we see a higher proportion of foreigners – who arguably have great spending power – benefiting local hospitality establishments and leading to positive spillover effects in other industries,” SS added.
Most visitors in May 2022 came from Germany, Switzerland and Austria (32.1%), South Africa (8.5%), France (7.9%), Benelux (4.8%) and the UK and Ireland (2.7%) during May 2022.
Regarding purpose of travel into Namibia, 94.6% came for leisure, 2.8% for business and 2.6% for conferences. Hospitality establishments in the central area recorded the highest occupancy rate (47.7%), followed by the northern area (41.7%), coastal area (35.5%) and southern area (35.3%) in May 2022.
The number of tourists visiting the central and northern areas have been on an inclining trend year-to-date, whereas visits to the coastal and southern areas are on a declining trend. Prior to the pandemic, the Northern area typically hosted the largest number of tourists during Namibia’s peak tourist season (May to August), Simonis pointed out.
Foreign and regional arrivals at all nationwide airports in Namibia dipped slightly in May 2022, decreasing by 10.3% month-on-month and 9.1% month-on-month respectively. Total foreign arrivals were 11 732 in May 2022, compared to 13 047 in April 2022.
On an annual basis, foreign and regional arrivals increased by 129.0% and 80.5% year-on-year, respectively. Year-to-date, Namibia received a total of 43 012 foreign arrivals at all nationwide airports, compared to 18 360 during the same period last year.
Regional arrivals typically exceed foreign arrivals in the first months of each year, however foreign arrivals have been lower than regional arrivals since January 2021. This potentially indicates that overseas travellers are more cautious in choosing their holiday destinations or face more stringent travel limitations compared to regional tourists, Simonis Storm [email protected]
According to Simonis Storm (SS), a 39.4% national occupancy rate was recorded during May 2022, compared to 36.5% in the prior month and 25.1% in May 2021.
Year-to-date, the national occupancy rate averages 29.1%, compared to 22.5% for the same period in 2021, showing an improvement in bookings made with nationwide hospitality establishments.
The significant increase could be attributed to aggressive marketing by various stakeholders in attracting foreigners to Namibia, declining Covid-19 cases globally and new airline routes to Namibia being offered, Simonis said.
The proportion of Namibian visitors at local establishments remains on a declining trend, where 30.6% of guests were Namibians during May 2022, compared to 37.7%during the prior month and 83.3% in the second quarter of 2020, SS said.
“As specials to locals disappear and tourist inflows improve, we see a higher proportion of foreigners – who arguably have great spending power – benefiting local hospitality establishments and leading to positive spillover effects in other industries,” SS added.
Most visitors in May 2022 came from Germany, Switzerland and Austria (32.1%), South Africa (8.5%), France (7.9%), Benelux (4.8%) and the UK and Ireland (2.7%) during May 2022.
Regarding purpose of travel into Namibia, 94.6% came for leisure, 2.8% for business and 2.6% for conferences. Hospitality establishments in the central area recorded the highest occupancy rate (47.7%), followed by the northern area (41.7%), coastal area (35.5%) and southern area (35.3%) in May 2022.
The number of tourists visiting the central and northern areas have been on an inclining trend year-to-date, whereas visits to the coastal and southern areas are on a declining trend. Prior to the pandemic, the Northern area typically hosted the largest number of tourists during Namibia’s peak tourist season (May to August), Simonis pointed out.
Foreign and regional arrivals at all nationwide airports in Namibia dipped slightly in May 2022, decreasing by 10.3% month-on-month and 9.1% month-on-month respectively. Total foreign arrivals were 11 732 in May 2022, compared to 13 047 in April 2022.
On an annual basis, foreign and regional arrivals increased by 129.0% and 80.5% year-on-year, respectively. Year-to-date, Namibia received a total of 43 012 foreign arrivals at all nationwide airports, compared to 18 360 during the same period last year.
Regional arrivals typically exceed foreign arrivals in the first months of each year, however foreign arrivals have been lower than regional arrivals since January 2021. This potentially indicates that overseas travellers are more cautious in choosing their holiday destinations or face more stringent travel limitations compared to regional tourists, Simonis Storm [email protected]
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