Sandwich Harbour concession to address challenges

The environment and tourism ministry says its decision to put out a Sandwich Harbour Sandwich Harbour tourism management concession in a competitive tender is designed to address a number of challenges in the area.Ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda said: “The decision was taken considering that Sandwich Harbour is in a remote location, making it difficult for [ministry] to constantly monitor and control."Among the problems are dilapidated toilets, environmental degradation caused mostly by self-drive tourism and motor vehicle clubs that use the area to test their vehicles and littering.Moreover, there are “records of accidents, some fatal, due to inexperienced and reckless drivers driving unguided... [and]some tour operators enter the area illegally without paying park entrance fees for their clients.”Spot checks have also found many tour operators with clients inside Sandwich Harbour without the necessary permits, resulting in revenue losses.“The successful bidder will have the right to man the entrance gate to ensure that only permit holders enter the area; maintain the ablution facilities; operate a shuttle/guide service to Sandwich Harbour for self-driving tourists; guide all motor club-related activities, such as Amarok, Jeep clubs, BMW excursions, and others; construct and operate a non-permanent structure kiosk at the entrance gate; and charge a minimal fee to all users, which will be determined by the ministry.”Once the evaluation of bids is finalised and a concession contract is signed, the ministry will announce the successful candidate, the ministry said.Objections airedMuyunda said the ministry is aware of complaints from some sections of the public objecting to the tender process. Critics argue that the Sandwich Harbour concession will benefit only one company, making access expensive and potentially harming Namibia&#039;s tourism affordability.He dismissed the complaints, saying they are being made by companies “that are concerned only with their own income and do not want the government to generate revenue. These are companies that are either misinformed or deliberately sabotaging interventions by the ministry to continue with illegal tours and driving in undesignated areas.”He clarified that the concession will not prohibit other tour operators from accessing Sandwich Harbour.Price concernsIn Zimbabwe, park entrance fees cost N$500 for SADC tourists and N$1 000 for international tourists; Zambia charges N$400 and N$500; Botswana charges N$283 and N$373; and South African fees are N$257 and N$535, respectively.By comparison, Namibia currently charges N$50 for locals, N$100 for SADC tourists and N$150 for international tourists.“Although the fees will be reviewed in the next financial year in line with the country’s regulations, areas like Sandwich Harbour, which have a special management arrangement, will not be subjected to the increase,” Muyunda said.

Sandwich Harbour concession to address challenges

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-17

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Sandwich Harbour concession to address challenges

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-17

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