Namibia Tourism Expo in full swing

Thousands are expected to flock to the Windhoek Show Grounds, where the country’s biggest tourism gathering, the Namibia Tourism Expo, was yesterday officially opened, and promises loads of activities for visitors.
Now in its 18th year, the Namibia Tourism Expo is taking place under the theme ‘Community’ from 18 to 21 May.
It is jointly sponsored by Namibia Media Holdings (NMH), Nedbank and Old Mutual Namibia.
Speaking at the official opening yesterday, Minister of Environment and Tourism Pohamba Shifeta said the expo plays an important role in tourism marketing, as it creates an environment to share ideas and for networking.
Stakeholders will also be able to catch up with international travel trend and do business deals.
Shifeta said the expo has experienced tremendous growth over the years, and praised NMH for the initiative taken to create such an important event.
Shifeta urged other government institutions to join in developing the sector and strengthen its macro-economic capabilities, adding that the private sector should also play a role in supporting this, and not just depend on government to drive the agenda.
Shifeta also stressed that the private sector should look outward, so that the long-term sustainability of the tourism sector is not compromised by offering more of the same type of tourist products, which is currently dominated by wildlife, scenery and landscape tourism.
With regards to the theme this year, Shifeta said that 60% of land in Namibia is currently under some form of protection, with communities playing a major role in sustaining the country’s natural resources.
Shifeta pointed out the importance of cultural tourism, and said that for the first time several groups from living museums in Namibia will also be exhibiting at the expo, with the purpose of showcasing their different cultures.
“I am inviting everyone that is going to make their way to the show grounds during the expo to make sure that you have learned a thing or two from the living museums,” the tourism minister said.
He added that the power of tourism to build and brand Namibia is undisputed.
Shifeta added that the expo plays a key role achieving the ambition of driving the domestic tourism agenda, in which the Namibia Tourism Board (NTB) has also played a pivotal role.
He said that the industry also needs to review results and work on challenges, to further develop and enhance the domestic tourism segment.
According to him, the Domestic Tourism Expenditure Survey project, which is yet to be formally launched, has revealed that it is very expensive for Namibian residents to find accommodation, and that they need more information on what to do when travelling to a destination.
Shifeta said that the NTB will, as part of its annual work plan, take these results and develop, in consultation with the relevant stakeholders, a comprehensive campaign to uplift the hidden gems in the country, by showcasing attractions, culture, products and services, including those offered by emerging entrepreneurs and conservancies.
Nedbank Namibia, which has been a co-sponsor of the expo since last year, will offer some incredible packages throughout the duration of the expo, at the Nedbank Motorshow.
“With the 2015 Namibia Tourism Expo, and particularly the stellar successes of the first-ever Nedbank Motorshow last year, we have shown that we are a ‘great place to invest’, in delivering on the expectations of our shareholders,” said Chief Operating Officer of Nedbank Namibia Limited, Richard Meeks.
According to Meeks the expo is the platform for the launch of their innovative “Win Your Share of One Million Namibia Dollars” campaign, which aims to reward loyal customers for their continuous support, and encourages those who have not yet had any dealings with the bank, to consider doing so.

ELLANIE SMIT