Cruise arrivals highlight need for smoother visa processing

The arrival of the cruise liner Mein Schiff 6 at Walvis Bay on Sunday highlighted both the growing potential of Namibia's cruise tourism sector and the need to streamline visa-on-arrival procedures.

The vessel arrived carrying approximately 2 500 passengers, about 50% of whom disembarked to explore attractions through organised excursions and independent travel arrangements.

The vessel's arrival coincided with a visit by senior government officials this weekend as part of the Namibia Tourism Board's visitor experience assessment programme.

The programme began with a Sandwich Harbour excursion on Saturday, followed by stakeholder engagement, and concluded on board the Mein Schiff 6 cruise liner.

Speaking on board, TUI Cruises senior shore operations manager Timo Kaden said passengers were excited to visit Namibia, with between 60% and 80% typically participating in excursions offered through local tour operators.

Kaden, however, noted challenges experienced with Namibia's online visa application system before the vessel's arrival.

He said the cruise line had encouraged passengers to apply for visas before boarding, but technical difficulties prevented some travellers from completing the process.

"We still had about 130 guests on board without confirmed visas when we arrived," he said.

Kaden said future improvements to the visa process would contribute to a smoother visitor experience and encourage tourists to return to Namibia.

Improved process

Deputy minister of tourism Anselm Marungu said the arrival of thousands of cruise tourists represented a significant opportunity for the country's economy.

"These visitors are going to leave some money in the country and contribute to economic growth," he said.

Daniel Nghidinua, the executive director of immigration, acknowledged that delays in visa processing could reduce the amount of time visitors spend ashore.

"When the visa-on-arrival process takes too long, it affects the entire exercise because visitors have less time to go out and spend money in the local economy," he said.

He called for improved coordination between stakeholders to ensure faster processing of arriving passengers and to maximise the benefits of cruise tourism.

Nghidinua said most passengers had successfully obtained visas before arriving in Namibia, with only a small group requiring assistance on arrival.

"We want our guests to obtain their visas before they arrive in Namibia. We are looking at both the application and payment processes to improve the experience," he said.