Trained workforce key to tourism success
One of the major weaknesses in terms of Namibia’s overall competiveness as a tourism destination, is a lack of tailor-made courses or qualifications that satisfy industry needs.
This is according to the National Sustainable Tourism Growth and Development Strategy 2016-2026, which says that in order for Namibia to address these challenges, the country needs to urgently develop a tourism career map.
The strategy stresses that Namibia needs to align tourism training to have a balance between skills and academic-based training, while creating and maintaining a well-trained tourism workforce.
It also recommends that the country needs to ensure that the first impressions of tourists to Namibia are positive and memorable.
According to the document, Namibia should ensure that qualified and appropriately trained staff is employed at the Namibia Tourism Board (NTB), Zambezi Waterfront, Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR) and the Windhoek Country Club Resort and Casino.
These are all parastatals of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism.
One of the recommendations is that the NWR’s Khorixas Resort should be converted into a training centre for NWR and conservancy staff.
It is also proposes that a national skills development programme and a national customer service training programme should be implemented.
Furthermore, it says that recognition of previous learning in the tourism sector should be promoted aggressively, while tourism programmes at university should be reoriented.
“It must also be ensured that tourism training meets the demands of the industry,” the document said.
Furthermore, the strategy places a strong emphasis on the NTB to expand its tourism product range, unlock unused potential and achieve greater regional equity in tourism development.
Besides urging Namibia to strengthen its position as a Meeting, Incentive, Conference, and Exhibition (MICE) destination, the strategy recommends that Namibia must also map cultural tourism products.
For instance, it says that the NTB should strengthen existing cultural festivals, such as /Ai //gams, Sam !Khubis and the Lüderitz Crayfish Festival, to ensure that the high quality, simple, but fun, and professional events are marketed domestically and regionally.
Also it is recommended that more living museums should be established and that film tourism be promoted.
Craft manufacturing, the report also recommends, should be promoted in conservancies.
ELLANIE SMIT
This is according to the National Sustainable Tourism Growth and Development Strategy 2016-2026, which says that in order for Namibia to address these challenges, the country needs to urgently develop a tourism career map.
The strategy stresses that Namibia needs to align tourism training to have a balance between skills and academic-based training, while creating and maintaining a well-trained tourism workforce.
It also recommends that the country needs to ensure that the first impressions of tourists to Namibia are positive and memorable.
According to the document, Namibia should ensure that qualified and appropriately trained staff is employed at the Namibia Tourism Board (NTB), Zambezi Waterfront, Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR) and the Windhoek Country Club Resort and Casino.
These are all parastatals of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism.
One of the recommendations is that the NWR’s Khorixas Resort should be converted into a training centre for NWR and conservancy staff.
It is also proposes that a national skills development programme and a national customer service training programme should be implemented.
Furthermore, it says that recognition of previous learning in the tourism sector should be promoted aggressively, while tourism programmes at university should be reoriented.
“It must also be ensured that tourism training meets the demands of the industry,” the document said.
Furthermore, the strategy places a strong emphasis on the NTB to expand its tourism product range, unlock unused potential and achieve greater regional equity in tourism development.
Besides urging Namibia to strengthen its position as a Meeting, Incentive, Conference, and Exhibition (MICE) destination, the strategy recommends that Namibia must also map cultural tourism products.
For instance, it says that the NTB should strengthen existing cultural festivals, such as /Ai //gams, Sam !Khubis and the Lüderitz Crayfish Festival, to ensure that the high quality, simple, but fun, and professional events are marketed domestically and regionally.
Also it is recommended that more living museums should be established and that film tourism be promoted.
Craft manufacturing, the report also recommends, should be promoted in conservancies.
ELLANIE SMIT
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