Worries about Europe's new lockdowns
ERWIN LEUSCHNER
SWAKOPMUND
“We are a little worried about the discouraging developments surrounding Covid-19 in Europe,” Gitta Paetzold of the Hospitality Association of Namibia (HAN), said in reaction to the reintroduction of lockdown regulations in Germany and France.
Due to the rapidly increasing number of Covid infections there, the German government announced 'Lockdown 2.0', with everyday life being shut down again as from 2 November, including a ban on tourist travel in Germany and the closure of all restaurants, for a month. However, a holiday abroad should still be possible. “We are still a little overwhelmed with the exact travel regulations, especially internationally,” Paetzold said.
“We are concerned that fewer Germans will travel to Namibia.” However, she said this is the perfect opportunity for Germans to visit Namibia for an extended period.
“We have a declining number of infections and, on top of that, lots of sun and warm temperatures. We hope that some tourists will travel to Namibia for two or three months. That would be ideal,” she said. In the meantime, closing Namibia's borders to German travellers has not yet been considered.
“Tourists can still enter with a negative Covid-19 test,” Paetzold said. “The Namibian tourism revitalisation strategy is being continued. We just have to keep an eye on international developments.”
SWAKOPMUND
“We are a little worried about the discouraging developments surrounding Covid-19 in Europe,” Gitta Paetzold of the Hospitality Association of Namibia (HAN), said in reaction to the reintroduction of lockdown regulations in Germany and France.
Due to the rapidly increasing number of Covid infections there, the German government announced 'Lockdown 2.0', with everyday life being shut down again as from 2 November, including a ban on tourist travel in Germany and the closure of all restaurants, for a month. However, a holiday abroad should still be possible. “We are still a little overwhelmed with the exact travel regulations, especially internationally,” Paetzold said.
“We are concerned that fewer Germans will travel to Namibia.” However, she said this is the perfect opportunity for Germans to visit Namibia for an extended period.
“We have a declining number of infections and, on top of that, lots of sun and warm temperatures. We hope that some tourists will travel to Namibia for two or three months. That would be ideal,” she said. In the meantime, closing Namibia's borders to German travellers has not yet been considered.
“Tourists can still enter with a negative Covid-19 test,” Paetzold said. “The Namibian tourism revitalisation strategy is being continued. We just have to keep an eye on international developments.”
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