Domestic tourism spikes during festive season at NWR
Local bookings for the upcoming festive season at Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR) have shown a significant increase, reflecting a growing interest among Namibians to explore their own country.
NWR spokesperson Nelson Ashipala said an analysis has revealed Namibians as the most frequent travellers, accounting for the highest number of bookings at NWR for December and January 2025 so far.
“This surge is associated with NWR’s ongoing efforts to encourage local tourism and make travel more accessible to Namibians through initiatives like the NamLeisure cards and special discounts.”
Ashipala said according to the December analysis, Namibians account for a remarkable 12.8% of bookings, followed by South Africans at 2.5%, with German nationals ranking third in total bookings.
This trend continues into January, with Namibians maintaining the lead at an 8% occupancy rate, followed by South Africans and Germans.
Locals enjoy Namibia's beauty
The data reflects strong interest from South African tourists, he said, particularly in fishing activities along Namibia's scenic coastal areas.
Ashipala said to entice more Namibians and SADC residents, NWR will soon kick off its Black Friday special with the main purpose of encouraging Namibians to travel the country.
“Of course, we would expect South Africans to make a rush to the coast for their favourite festive activities... however, it also excites us that Namibians are using the festive season time to enjoy the beauty of what our country has to offer,” Ashipala said.
He said efforts like the NamLeisure card and the upcoming Black Friday specials are designed to reduce local barriers to travel.
Crucial support for media
Meanwhile, NWR and the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) hosted a collaborative journalism training workshop last week at the Hardap Dam Resort.
Led by the NSA’s census team, the initiative aimed to equip journalists with the skills to understand, access and accurately report on data, with a particular focus on census data.
Over 14 journalists from various media outlets attended the training, which covered topics such as the role of journalism in data dissemination, interpreting census results, fact-checking and storytelling based on data.
The training emphasised the importance of factual, data-driven reporting in empowering the public with critical information on health, education and the economy.
Ashipala highlighted how the collaboration came to be, considering that the two institutions operate in parallel industries.
”For NWR, committing to journalist training on the census in partnership with the NSA is a strategic step to support accurate, comprehensive reporting on a national initiative that directly impacts our industry and the country. By equipping journalists with the tools and knowledge needed to cover the census effectively, we ensure that critical data around tourism, demographics and regional development are well represented,” he said.
NWR spokesperson Nelson Ashipala said an analysis has revealed Namibians as the most frequent travellers, accounting for the highest number of bookings at NWR for December and January 2025 so far.
“This surge is associated with NWR’s ongoing efforts to encourage local tourism and make travel more accessible to Namibians through initiatives like the NamLeisure cards and special discounts.”
Ashipala said according to the December analysis, Namibians account for a remarkable 12.8% of bookings, followed by South Africans at 2.5%, with German nationals ranking third in total bookings.
This trend continues into January, with Namibians maintaining the lead at an 8% occupancy rate, followed by South Africans and Germans.
Locals enjoy Namibia's beauty
The data reflects strong interest from South African tourists, he said, particularly in fishing activities along Namibia's scenic coastal areas.
Ashipala said to entice more Namibians and SADC residents, NWR will soon kick off its Black Friday special with the main purpose of encouraging Namibians to travel the country.
“Of course, we would expect South Africans to make a rush to the coast for their favourite festive activities... however, it also excites us that Namibians are using the festive season time to enjoy the beauty of what our country has to offer,” Ashipala said.
He said efforts like the NamLeisure card and the upcoming Black Friday specials are designed to reduce local barriers to travel.
Crucial support for media
Meanwhile, NWR and the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) hosted a collaborative journalism training workshop last week at the Hardap Dam Resort.
Led by the NSA’s census team, the initiative aimed to equip journalists with the skills to understand, access and accurately report on data, with a particular focus on census data.
Over 14 journalists from various media outlets attended the training, which covered topics such as the role of journalism in data dissemination, interpreting census results, fact-checking and storytelling based on data.
The training emphasised the importance of factual, data-driven reporting in empowering the public with critical information on health, education and the economy.
Ashipala highlighted how the collaboration came to be, considering that the two institutions operate in parallel industries.
”For NWR, committing to journalist training on the census in partnership with the NSA is a strategic step to support accurate, comprehensive reporting on a national initiative that directly impacts our industry and the country. By equipping journalists with the tools and knowledge needed to cover the census effectively, we ensure that critical data around tourism, demographics and regional development are well represented,” he said.
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