Tourists are welcome
Celebrations in anticipation of World Tourism Day kicked off at the Hosea Kutako International Airport on Friday with a Namibian culture and heritage exhibition and performances.
The celebrations were aimed at welcoming tourists and were designed to ease the frustrations of arriving visitors due to the long queues.
World Tourism Day takes place on 27 September and this year's theme is 'Sustainable Tourism – a Tool for Development'.
In line with this theme and also to recognise the importance of tourism, Namibia selected the theme for this year to be 'Tourism begins at home'.
This is to sensitise and create awareness about the issues affecting the sector in Namibia and to encourage Namibians to travel within their own country.
Public enterprises minister Leon Jooste highlighted the challenges posed by new airlines arriving in Namibia and the limited space at the international airport.
“As a line ministry we are aware of this and we are working to address these challenges.
“With an increase in the number of visitors and airport users, more money flows into the local economy. With increased economic activity and employment, consumer behaviour changes, raising the standard of living of the people in the region. Thus, the availability of our airports provides a thrust to the GDP.”
According to Jooste few industries can demonstrate the rate of sustained growth and investment shown by the air transport business.
The deputy environment minister, Tommy Nambahu, said the ministry has established a steering committee to spearhead the preparations and several events are planned to build excitement for the final event that will take place at the Zoo Park Amphitheatre in Windhoek on 27 September.
ELLANIE SMIT
The celebrations were aimed at welcoming tourists and were designed to ease the frustrations of arriving visitors due to the long queues.
World Tourism Day takes place on 27 September and this year's theme is 'Sustainable Tourism – a Tool for Development'.
In line with this theme and also to recognise the importance of tourism, Namibia selected the theme for this year to be 'Tourism begins at home'.
This is to sensitise and create awareness about the issues affecting the sector in Namibia and to encourage Namibians to travel within their own country.
Public enterprises minister Leon Jooste highlighted the challenges posed by new airlines arriving in Namibia and the limited space at the international airport.
“As a line ministry we are aware of this and we are working to address these challenges.
“With an increase in the number of visitors and airport users, more money flows into the local economy. With increased economic activity and employment, consumer behaviour changes, raising the standard of living of the people in the region. Thus, the availability of our airports provides a thrust to the GDP.”
According to Jooste few industries can demonstrate the rate of sustained growth and investment shown by the air transport business.
The deputy environment minister, Tommy Nambahu, said the ministry has established a steering committee to spearhead the preparations and several events are planned to build excitement for the final event that will take place at the Zoo Park Amphitheatre in Windhoek on 27 September.
ELLANIE SMIT
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Namibian Sun
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