Namibia the best country to invest in - Nandi-Ndaitwah
Namibia is the best country to invest in, with an investment-friendly environment defined by political stability, safety and security, a trainable workforce and a high quality of life.
This according to Vice-President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, in a speech delivered on her behalf by tourism minister Pohamba Shifeta yesterday during the opening of the Africa Hospitality Investment Forum (AHIF) in Windhoek.
More than 490 people from 42 countries are attending the forum.
AHIF kicked off with a networking session on Tuesday and will draw to a close today. This is the first time the forum is taking place in sub-Saharan Africa.
Reading Nandi-Ndaitwah’s speech, Shifeta said tourism is one of the sectors Namibia considers a pillar of the economy and is the second largest employer in the country.
The tourism sector has demonstrated resilience after the devastating impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, he added. “It not only successfully bounced back, but has beaten the tourist arrival numbers recorded in 2019. The statisticians are telling us that our national occupancy rate reached 60.3% in May this year.”
This is the highest rate observed this year and the highest since October 2019, when the occupancy rate was 69.9%. This milestone for the tourism industry surpasses the occupancy rates of 55.8% recorded in May 2019 and 50.8% recorded in May 2023.
Positive trajectory
Shifeta further highlighted that passenger arrivals in May totalled close to 50 000, reflecting an 11.2% year-on-year increase. “This is the highest number of passenger arrivals since November 2023 and the largest figure for May since 2017.”
With tourism arrivals and bed occupancy rates off to a good start in the first quarter of this year, the tourism sector is well on its way to a positive trajectory, Shifeta said. This remarkable turnaround is a testament to commitment, efforts and collaboration by government and the private sector to sustain an economically growing tourism sector, he added.
The impact of the tourism sector cannot be overemphasised as it has the potential to create business opportunities, particularly for small businesses, he said. “It generates employment, reduces poverty and directly sustains the livelihood of thousands of our people.”
The tourism sector also acts as a catalyst for advancing sustainable development across multiple sectors. “In 2022, the hospitality and tourism sector contributed approximately 7% of nominal gross domestic product, which amounts to N$14.3 billion.”
The minister said government, therefore, has a vested interest in ensuring the long-term growth and sustainability of the sector.
Connecting Africa
“Today, we live in an interconnected world where no single country can afford to play the lone game,” Shifeta said, adding that one of the goals of the forum is to connect Africa.
Several discussions on investment in Namibia will also take place at the forum.
“We must move to transformational tourism by aligning investment strategies to address challenges that threaten to stifle growth and sustainability in the sector.” Shifeta said that by driving investment into the tourism sector, it also actively creates opportunities for local communities who directly benefit from these investments.
At least seven small businesses were afforded the opportunity to showcase and sell their products at the event.
This according to Vice-President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, in a speech delivered on her behalf by tourism minister Pohamba Shifeta yesterday during the opening of the Africa Hospitality Investment Forum (AHIF) in Windhoek.
More than 490 people from 42 countries are attending the forum.
AHIF kicked off with a networking session on Tuesday and will draw to a close today. This is the first time the forum is taking place in sub-Saharan Africa.
Reading Nandi-Ndaitwah’s speech, Shifeta said tourism is one of the sectors Namibia considers a pillar of the economy and is the second largest employer in the country.
The tourism sector has demonstrated resilience after the devastating impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, he added. “It not only successfully bounced back, but has beaten the tourist arrival numbers recorded in 2019. The statisticians are telling us that our national occupancy rate reached 60.3% in May this year.”
This is the highest rate observed this year and the highest since October 2019, when the occupancy rate was 69.9%. This milestone for the tourism industry surpasses the occupancy rates of 55.8% recorded in May 2019 and 50.8% recorded in May 2023.
Positive trajectory
Shifeta further highlighted that passenger arrivals in May totalled close to 50 000, reflecting an 11.2% year-on-year increase. “This is the highest number of passenger arrivals since November 2023 and the largest figure for May since 2017.”
With tourism arrivals and bed occupancy rates off to a good start in the first quarter of this year, the tourism sector is well on its way to a positive trajectory, Shifeta said. This remarkable turnaround is a testament to commitment, efforts and collaboration by government and the private sector to sustain an economically growing tourism sector, he added.
The impact of the tourism sector cannot be overemphasised as it has the potential to create business opportunities, particularly for small businesses, he said. “It generates employment, reduces poverty and directly sustains the livelihood of thousands of our people.”
The tourism sector also acts as a catalyst for advancing sustainable development across multiple sectors. “In 2022, the hospitality and tourism sector contributed approximately 7% of nominal gross domestic product, which amounts to N$14.3 billion.”
The minister said government, therefore, has a vested interest in ensuring the long-term growth and sustainability of the sector.
Connecting Africa
“Today, we live in an interconnected world where no single country can afford to play the lone game,” Shifeta said, adding that one of the goals of the forum is to connect Africa.
Several discussions on investment in Namibia will also take place at the forum.
“We must move to transformational tourism by aligning investment strategies to address challenges that threaten to stifle growth and sustainability in the sector.” Shifeta said that by driving investment into the tourism sector, it also actively creates opportunities for local communities who directly benefit from these investments.
At least seven small businesses were afforded the opportunity to showcase and sell their products at the event.
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