Shifeta sells Namibian tourism to the world

The travel and tourism sector in Namibia offers a variety of unexplored investment opportunities to potential investors - in protected areas, the wider sector and across the tourism value-chain.This according to tourism minister Pohamba Shifeta, who said while Namibian tourism has suffered a huge blow during the Covid-19 pandemic, the total international arrivals for 2022 are expected to increase above the 500 000 mark. This, however, remains well below the 1.5 million arrivals recorded in 2019, pre-Covid-19.The sector suffered a decline of around 90% in international tourist arrivals in 2020, he said.“The international tourist arrival trends from January to December 2021 indicate a regaining of 37.81% of the lost market when compared to 2020 figures, and 2022 is showing continued increases in tourist arrivals.”Speaking at the World Economic Forum last week in Davos, Switzerland, Shifeta said the pandemic has offered government of the opportunity to improve the enabling framework to reboot the overall sector.“On a general level, there has been improvement in the overall business environment in the country as a result of government policy interventions offering specific support to enterprises, improving the ease of doing business, providing incentives to investors and by prioritising an investor-driven openness approach to economic growth and development.”Shifeta further stressed that tourism is a key economic sector that can increase its contribution to the gross domestic product and enhance the country’s economic development and employment creation opportunities through increased investments.OpportunitiesAccording to the minister, there are opportunities to invest in hotels and lodges as well as in tourism-related activities such as conferencing, hunting, adventure tourism, sports and cultural tourism.“An established framework is also in place for joint-venture partnerships with local communities.”Shifeta said recovery, growth and expansion is being prioritised through - amongst other things - private-public sector investments and partnerships; improving destination price competitiveness; perfecting environmental sustainability through robust policy frameworks; enhancing tourist services infrastructure; utilising our immense cultural resources and promoting business travel.He said government will this year launch a targeted intervention programme through the development and implementation of the National Tourism Recovery Plan 2022 to 2024. This plan sets out a national strategic framework to stimulate the travel and tourism demand in the short- and medium-term. The plan has identified necessary policies, strategic programmes and activities required to rebuild the sector stronger and better.

Shifeta sells Namibian tourism to the world

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-09-19

Please login to leave a comment

Shifeta sells Namibian tourism to the world

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-09-19

Please login to leave a comment

Login