New park fees implemented
ELLANIE SMIT
WINDHOEK
A new park fee structure, that also includes conservation fees, has been gazetted and came into effect as from 1 April.
The environment ministry at the end of last year announced that new fees would come into effect at the beginning of this year, but this was, however, delayed by modalities that had to be put in place to ensure the efficient and smooth collection of fees without any inconvenience to visitors to the country’s national parks.
“All approvals for the implementation of the revised park entrance fees and the introduction of the conservation fee has been obtained,” the ministry said.
The new conservation fees, in addition to the existing park fees, were introduced because there was a shortfall in resources to conserve wildlife and maintain infrastructure in parks.
The ministry previously said the conservation fees will accrue to the Game Products Trust Fund and will be used for the management and maintenance of infrastructure in national parks and game parks, human-wildlife conflict mitigation and preventative measures, wildlife protection and law enforcement.
Lowest fees in SADC
For Namibian residents, new park entrance fees will range from N$20 to N$30, while the additional conservation fee will be between N$10 and N$20, depending on which parks are visited.
Meanwhile, Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) residents will pay between N$20 and N$60 for park fees and N$20 and for N$40 for conservation fees, while foreigners will pay between N$40 and N$100 and N$20 and N$50 respectively.
The ministry said it had not increased park entrance fees since 2005 and the fees are the lowest in SADC.
WINDHOEK
A new park fee structure, that also includes conservation fees, has been gazetted and came into effect as from 1 April.
The environment ministry at the end of last year announced that new fees would come into effect at the beginning of this year, but this was, however, delayed by modalities that had to be put in place to ensure the efficient and smooth collection of fees without any inconvenience to visitors to the country’s national parks.
“All approvals for the implementation of the revised park entrance fees and the introduction of the conservation fee has been obtained,” the ministry said.
The new conservation fees, in addition to the existing park fees, were introduced because there was a shortfall in resources to conserve wildlife and maintain infrastructure in parks.
The ministry previously said the conservation fees will accrue to the Game Products Trust Fund and will be used for the management and maintenance of infrastructure in national parks and game parks, human-wildlife conflict mitigation and preventative measures, wildlife protection and law enforcement.
Lowest fees in SADC
For Namibian residents, new park entrance fees will range from N$20 to N$30, while the additional conservation fee will be between N$10 and N$20, depending on which parks are visited.
Meanwhile, Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) residents will pay between N$20 and N$60 for park fees and N$20 and for N$40 for conservation fees, while foreigners will pay between N$40 and N$100 and N$20 and N$50 respectively.
The ministry said it had not increased park entrance fees since 2005 and the fees are the lowest in SADC.
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