The Namibia Tourism Board (NTB) exhibition at the Namibia Tourism Expo 2022 drawn positive attention to many tourism enthusiasts. Under the theme “Are you NTB compliant?” NTB compliance campaign is a call-to-action for tourism businesses to comply with the Namibia Tourism Board Act at all times. The team set up an office in the tourismus hall offering tourism business registrations and guidance, tourism business verification and updates, tourism levy verification and updates, and printing of temporary tourism vehicle discs.
Through this, NTB urges all stakeholders who offers overnight accommodation, provide tourist transportation services, offer activities/facilitate tours or booking services, and all who wish to venture into a tourism business to ensure that they are compliant by following all business registration procedures and pay their tourism levy due.
The just ended 23rd Namibia Tourism Expo 2022 has shown positivity in the tourism sector. Held on 3-5 November 2022 under the theme “taking Tourism to the regions” at the SKW sports field in Windhoek, the expo has seen a frequency of about 6000 visitors according to the Namibia Media Holdings (NMH) statistics.
The Tourism Expo main objective is to serve as a platform for all service providers, suppliers, tour operators, Travel Agents, consumers, Destination Marketing Organizations, Destination Management Companies, and media to promote and market their products and services to each other and directly to the consumers. This has seen NTB scooping a silver award for the stand design.
In her official statement during the opening, deputy minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism Hon. Heather Sibugo said an event of this magnitude is good for tourism development and destination marketing, especially as everyone aspires to recover the sector from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The sector remains cautious as the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) continues to call for stronger coordination on travel protocols between countries to ensure the safe restart of tourism and avoid massive losses for the sector. The success of this sector has a positive significant impact to the Namibian economy, therefore; the Ministry continue to support the sector to attract more visitors” she said.
Despite the many effects and challenges experienced during and post-COVID-19, Namibia is experiencing a spiking number of visitors’ arrivals this year pushing for a standardized sector.
According to the electronic Border Management System (eBMS) provided through the ministry, Namibia received a total of 396 676 foreign arrival from 01 January 2022 to 31 October 2022.
From 01 January 2022 to 31 October 2022 Namibia received a total of 198 227 visitors / tourists which is 49.9% of the total foreign arrivals while 81 182 (20.4%) of the foreign arrivals visited friends and relatives. This shows a positive recovery of the tourism industry this year compared to 2021.
Even though it is triggered by crisis scenarios, NTB believes there is a real chance to move towards the tourism sector of tomorrow. Apart from regulations, one of NTB’s mandates is to promote Namibian tourism as the key element to regenerate Namibia and increase its global competitiveness as a touristic destination. Namibia Tourism Board strongly believes that when managed well, tourism is one of the best engines for transformative and sustainable economic development