Tourism creates 1 000 extra jobs

WINDHOEK NAMPA The tourism sector created close to 23 000 jobs in 2012, compared to 22 000 in 2011, the latest Namibia Tourism Satellite Account (TSA) revealed. The fourth edition of the TSA, which was launched by Prime Minister Dr Hage Geingob at the opening of the 2013 Namibia Tourism Expo last week, also found that real growth in employment stabilised at around 1,7% in both 2012 and 2013. Total employment in the travel and tourism industry is projected to increase to 123 000 by the end of 2020. Current growth is mainly driven by new capital investments and government spending. The TSA indicated that the industry contributed close to N$3,8 million towards the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2012, compared to N$3,6 million in 2011. Government had spent N$532 million or about 4% of its national budget on boosting the travel and tourism sector. It said for a number of years, government travel and tourism expenditure remained between 3 and 4% of total government budget. This trend is expected to continue in the foreseeable future. In terms of travel and tourism capital investments, the survey said such investments contributed only N$1,7 billion, or 0,3% of total government spend. It further cautioned that a lack of real growth in capital investments belies the credence given to the sector as a pillar of growth in the Namibian economy. It suggested several measures to boost the tourism sector, including reforming policy around land tenure, the quick approvals of business applications, entering new emerging markets and and diversifying tourism offerings or products to attract more investment. The TSA is based on the United Nations' World Travel Organisation (UNWTO) Capacity-Building Programme.