N$520m injection needed for tourism healing
ELLANIE SMIT
WINDHOEK
The estimated budget for Namibia’s tourism recovery plan is more than half a billion Namibian dollars.
According to the draft report for Namibia’s Tourism Recovery Plan, an estimated N$520.5 million will be needed for several strategic interventions, programmes and activities to get the country’s tourism back on track.
During the second and third quarter of 2020, a year-on-year drop of over 80% in hotel and other short-stay occupancy rates was reported, with very few international tourist arrivals given the restrictions imposed, it read.
There was an 89.4% decline in international tourist arrivals, from 1.59 million in 2019 to 169 565 in 2020.
It said over 1 000 companies applied for financial assistance through the stimulus package offered by central government. Many companies reduced salaries and retrenched employees, while others opted for liquidations.
Standstill
According to the report, the sector came to standstill from March 2020. With a slow start from July 2021 and during the 18-month period, approximately 100 tourism businesses closed temporarily or permanently.
It also estimated that over 1 000 direct jobs could be lost last year if the recovery was further slowed due to travel restrictions.
“The crisis for the tourism sector does, however, present certain opportunities to rearrange, reboot and rebuild it for an even more successful and sustainable future based on targeted interventions,” it said.
The Tourism Recovery Plan provides five strategic interventions and 14 programmes at strategic and national level.
Among these are restoring international tourism confidence, extending financial support to businesses in the sector, building a strong Namibian brand using multiple advertising platforms, creating synergy with key stakeholders in the industry and promoting and digitalising tourism investment opportunities.
“These programmes and activities are multisectoral and multifaceted. It will thus require greater cooperation and funding from various sources and institutions for its successful implementation,” the report said.
Input
The document is the outcome of an engagement process within the sector and its key stakeholders. It incorporates recommendations from a macroeconomic assessment report done by the tourism ministry as well as input from the private sector on domestic and international marketing strategies obtained through the Namibia Tourism Board, input from tourism stakeholder engagement platforms countrywide, input from tourism regional forums and input from other tourism reports.
[email protected]
WINDHOEK
The estimated budget for Namibia’s tourism recovery plan is more than half a billion Namibian dollars.
According to the draft report for Namibia’s Tourism Recovery Plan, an estimated N$520.5 million will be needed for several strategic interventions, programmes and activities to get the country’s tourism back on track.
During the second and third quarter of 2020, a year-on-year drop of over 80% in hotel and other short-stay occupancy rates was reported, with very few international tourist arrivals given the restrictions imposed, it read.
There was an 89.4% decline in international tourist arrivals, from 1.59 million in 2019 to 169 565 in 2020.
It said over 1 000 companies applied for financial assistance through the stimulus package offered by central government. Many companies reduced salaries and retrenched employees, while others opted for liquidations.
Standstill
According to the report, the sector came to standstill from March 2020. With a slow start from July 2021 and during the 18-month period, approximately 100 tourism businesses closed temporarily or permanently.
It also estimated that over 1 000 direct jobs could be lost last year if the recovery was further slowed due to travel restrictions.
“The crisis for the tourism sector does, however, present certain opportunities to rearrange, reboot and rebuild it for an even more successful and sustainable future based on targeted interventions,” it said.
The Tourism Recovery Plan provides five strategic interventions and 14 programmes at strategic and national level.
Among these are restoring international tourism confidence, extending financial support to businesses in the sector, building a strong Namibian brand using multiple advertising platforms, creating synergy with key stakeholders in the industry and promoting and digitalising tourism investment opportunities.
“These programmes and activities are multisectoral and multifaceted. It will thus require greater cooperation and funding from various sources and institutions for its successful implementation,” the report said.
Input
The document is the outcome of an engagement process within the sector and its key stakeholders. It incorporates recommendations from a macroeconomic assessment report done by the tourism ministry as well as input from the private sector on domestic and international marketing strategies obtained through the Namibia Tourism Board, input from tourism stakeholder engagement platforms countrywide, input from tourism regional forums and input from other tourism reports.
[email protected]
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