Geopolitical conflict continue to constrict global tourism
NTB urges Namibians to prioritise safety of tourists
Service providers have been called on to deliver quality services to all visitors to uphold the country's reputation as a sought-after travel destination.
As Namibia’s tourism sector intensifies efforts to enhance growth, the Namibia Tourism Board (NTB) has urged Namibians to prioritise the safety of tourists visiting the country.
With the festive seasons almost in full swing, NTB spokesperson Flora Quest underscored the importance of tourism to the country’s economy and reiterated the need to ensure tourist safety to maintain this economic lifeline.
Throughout the year, several crimes were reported in which tourists were robbed of their valuables, a situation NTB described as worrying.
“With a concerning increase in crime against tourists travelling to Namibia, both local authorities and the community must prioritise the protection of visitors. Ensuring safe travel experiences not only enhances Namibia’s reputation as a welcoming destination but also fosters trust among potential tourists,” Quest said.
She added: “When travellers feel secure in their environment, they are more likely to share their positive experiences with friends and family, encouraging others to explore the beauty of Namibia.”
Recovery underway
Tourist arrivals have also increased steadily, with the Namibia Statistics Agency saying in its Composite Passengers Movement Index that in absolute terms, a total of 103 584 passenger arrivals and departures were recorded at airport terminals across the country in October, compared to 105 483 recorded in September and 99 162 registered in the same month of 2023.
In his festive season message, tourism minister Pohamba Shifeta told Network Media Hub that 2024 is a year the tourism industry can celebrate.
“We are excited because we have almost fully recovered. We had a devastating Covid pandemic, which put the tourism industry in panic. But our recovery plan worked.”
He called on service providers in the tourism industry to treat customers well and deliver quality services.
Namibia must demonstrate its hospitality and customer service to every tourist visiting the country, he added.
Top-notch destination
Namibia was ranked amongst the top 10 countries within the Sub-Saharan African region in the 2024 Travel and Tourism Development Index (TTDI) by the World Economic Forum.
The 2024 TTDI covers 119 economies and measures the set of factors and policies that enable the sustainable and resilient development of the travel and tourism sector, which in turn contributes to the development of a country.
Released in May this year, the index ranked Namibia 95th amongst 119 countries and seventh on the African continent.
In the 2024 Index, Namibia dropped eight places compared to its previous ranking.
Growth despite geopolitical headwinds
The tourism sector still faces inflation in travel and tourism, mainly due to high transport and accommodation prices, as well as volatile oil prices.
Major conflicts and tensions around the world continue to impact consumer confidence, while extreme weather events and staff shortages are also critical challenges for tourism performance. The World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) said despite the generally strong results in the tourism sector this year, several economic, geopolitical and climate challenges remain.
UNWTO said around 1.1 billion tourists travelled internationally in the first nine months of this year as the global sector recovered 98% of pre-pandemic levels.
According to its latest World Tourism Barometer, a full recovery from the biggest crisis in the tourism sector’s history is expected by the end of the year, despite ongoing challenges.
It said four years after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, which brought global tourism to a standstill, the barometer reflects on the sector’s remarkable recovery, with most regions already exceeding 2019 arrival numbers in the period of 2019 to September this year.
The report also shows outstanding results in terms of international tourism receipts, with most destinations with available data posting double-digit growth compared to 2019.
With the festive seasons almost in full swing, NTB spokesperson Flora Quest underscored the importance of tourism to the country’s economy and reiterated the need to ensure tourist safety to maintain this economic lifeline.
Throughout the year, several crimes were reported in which tourists were robbed of their valuables, a situation NTB described as worrying.
“With a concerning increase in crime against tourists travelling to Namibia, both local authorities and the community must prioritise the protection of visitors. Ensuring safe travel experiences not only enhances Namibia’s reputation as a welcoming destination but also fosters trust among potential tourists,” Quest said.
She added: “When travellers feel secure in their environment, they are more likely to share their positive experiences with friends and family, encouraging others to explore the beauty of Namibia.”
Recovery underway
Tourist arrivals have also increased steadily, with the Namibia Statistics Agency saying in its Composite Passengers Movement Index that in absolute terms, a total of 103 584 passenger arrivals and departures were recorded at airport terminals across the country in October, compared to 105 483 recorded in September and 99 162 registered in the same month of 2023.
In his festive season message, tourism minister Pohamba Shifeta told Network Media Hub that 2024 is a year the tourism industry can celebrate.
“We are excited because we have almost fully recovered. We had a devastating Covid pandemic, which put the tourism industry in panic. But our recovery plan worked.”
He called on service providers in the tourism industry to treat customers well and deliver quality services.
Namibia must demonstrate its hospitality and customer service to every tourist visiting the country, he added.
Top-notch destination
Namibia was ranked amongst the top 10 countries within the Sub-Saharan African region in the 2024 Travel and Tourism Development Index (TTDI) by the World Economic Forum.
The 2024 TTDI covers 119 economies and measures the set of factors and policies that enable the sustainable and resilient development of the travel and tourism sector, which in turn contributes to the development of a country.
Released in May this year, the index ranked Namibia 95th amongst 119 countries and seventh on the African continent.
In the 2024 Index, Namibia dropped eight places compared to its previous ranking.
Growth despite geopolitical headwinds
The tourism sector still faces inflation in travel and tourism, mainly due to high transport and accommodation prices, as well as volatile oil prices.
Major conflicts and tensions around the world continue to impact consumer confidence, while extreme weather events and staff shortages are also critical challenges for tourism performance. The World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) said despite the generally strong results in the tourism sector this year, several economic, geopolitical and climate challenges remain.
UNWTO said around 1.1 billion tourists travelled internationally in the first nine months of this year as the global sector recovered 98% of pre-pandemic levels.
According to its latest World Tourism Barometer, a full recovery from the biggest crisis in the tourism sector’s history is expected by the end of the year, despite ongoing challenges.
It said four years after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, which brought global tourism to a standstill, the barometer reflects on the sector’s remarkable recovery, with most regions already exceeding 2019 arrival numbers in the period of 2019 to September this year.
The report also shows outstanding results in terms of international tourism receipts, with most destinations with available data posting double-digit growth compared to 2019.
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