Less money for parks upkeep
The money allocated to the ministry is unlikely to address concerns raised about the maintenance of the fences around the Etosha National Park.
The budget allocated to the environment and tourism ministry for the 2019/20 financial year has increased slightly to N$461 million from the N$400 million that it was allocated during the previous financial year.
Of the amount allocated for this financial year a total of N$396.3 million is for the operational budget and N$92.4 million is for the development budget.
According to the Estimates of Revenue, Income and Expenditure for April 2019 to March 2022, the Wildlife and National Parks Division under the ministry will be allocated a total amount N$195.4 million. This is an increase from the N$178.4 million which was allocated to the division in the last financial year.
The document states that only 828 of the 1 488 fulltime positions in the division are currently filled, however it seems that there will be no appointments as there is only funding for the current 828 employees during this financial year.
Furthermore, money allocated for maintenance expenses under this division has been cut from N$1.5 million in the 2018/19 financial year to a mere N$400 000 this financial year.
The Scientific Services Division has been allocated total of N$26.15 million, which is a slight increase from the N$26.14 million it received the previous financial year.
Meanwhile, money allocated to the Tourism and Gaming Division for this financial year has been cut from the N$21.9 million it received during the previous financial year to N$19.6 million for this year.
According to the Accountability Report for 2017/18, a total amount of N$34 million has been collected through gaming revenue exceeding the target of N$21 million. It is important to note that this revenue is collected only from the registered gambling houses and can thus grow exceptionally if all gambling houses are registered.
Under this division, subsidies totalling N$4.5 million will be allocated towards SOEs. The Zambezi Waterfront will be allocated a subsidy of N$500 000, which is an increase from the N$250 000 subsidy it received last year.
The Namibian Tourism Board will be allocated an amount of N$4 million, cutting back from the N$5 million it was subsidised last year.
The Accountability Report says that a total number of 1.6 million visitors of which 1.5 million are tourists have arrived in Namibia.
“A target of 1.8 million tourists has not been achieved due to the reason that NTB has not been receiving adequate funding and they have not been implementing all the provisions of the National Tourism Growth Strategy as directed. This has direct impact on the ability of destination Namibia to increase the growth of tourist arrivals.”
Furthermore, the Environmental Affairs Division will be allocated an amount of N$31.9 million in comparison to the N$22.3 million it was allocated last year. A subsidy of N$14 million will be allocated to the Environmental Investment Fund this financial year. The fund was allocated a subsidy of N$4.5 million during the previous financial year.
The Directorate of Planning and Technical Services will be allocated a total amount of N$100.6 million, increasing its budget allocation from N$74.2 million from the previous financial year.
For the purchasing of land and intangible assets under this division no money has been allocated, while last year N$1 million was set aside.
ELLANIE SMIT
Of the amount allocated for this financial year a total of N$396.3 million is for the operational budget and N$92.4 million is for the development budget.
According to the Estimates of Revenue, Income and Expenditure for April 2019 to March 2022, the Wildlife and National Parks Division under the ministry will be allocated a total amount N$195.4 million. This is an increase from the N$178.4 million which was allocated to the division in the last financial year.
The document states that only 828 of the 1 488 fulltime positions in the division are currently filled, however it seems that there will be no appointments as there is only funding for the current 828 employees during this financial year.
Furthermore, money allocated for maintenance expenses under this division has been cut from N$1.5 million in the 2018/19 financial year to a mere N$400 000 this financial year.
The Scientific Services Division has been allocated total of N$26.15 million, which is a slight increase from the N$26.14 million it received the previous financial year.
Meanwhile, money allocated to the Tourism and Gaming Division for this financial year has been cut from the N$21.9 million it received during the previous financial year to N$19.6 million for this year.
According to the Accountability Report for 2017/18, a total amount of N$34 million has been collected through gaming revenue exceeding the target of N$21 million. It is important to note that this revenue is collected only from the registered gambling houses and can thus grow exceptionally if all gambling houses are registered.
Under this division, subsidies totalling N$4.5 million will be allocated towards SOEs. The Zambezi Waterfront will be allocated a subsidy of N$500 000, which is an increase from the N$250 000 subsidy it received last year.
The Namibian Tourism Board will be allocated an amount of N$4 million, cutting back from the N$5 million it was subsidised last year.
The Accountability Report says that a total number of 1.6 million visitors of which 1.5 million are tourists have arrived in Namibia.
“A target of 1.8 million tourists has not been achieved due to the reason that NTB has not been receiving adequate funding and they have not been implementing all the provisions of the National Tourism Growth Strategy as directed. This has direct impact on the ability of destination Namibia to increase the growth of tourist arrivals.”
Furthermore, the Environmental Affairs Division will be allocated an amount of N$31.9 million in comparison to the N$22.3 million it was allocated last year. A subsidy of N$14 million will be allocated to the Environmental Investment Fund this financial year. The fund was allocated a subsidy of N$4.5 million during the previous financial year.
The Directorate of Planning and Technical Services will be allocated a total amount of N$100.6 million, increasing its budget allocation from N$74.2 million from the previous financial year.
For the purchasing of land and intangible assets under this division no money has been allocated, while last year N$1 million was set aside.
ELLANIE SMIT
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article