Extra costs for visas 'not hospitable'
Limited direct air access and the implementation of Namibia’s new visa policy are two key issues that continue to hamper the country’s tourism potential.In addition, high airfares and the lack of direct routes to Namibia from major markets are further constraining the industry’s growth.
“The convenience of direct connections between Namibia and its major source markets is clearly reflected in market performance,” said Hospitality Association of Namibia (HAN) CEO, Gitta Paetzold.
Speaking at the release of August occupancy figures, she stressed that expanding airline connections from additional source markets could help Namibia diversify and grow alternative markets. HAN, through Paetzold, also expressed concern about congestion and delays at entry points caused by manpower shortages and limited facilities for handling visa controls.
She noted that the introduction of additional administrative fees for travellers applying for visas on arrival combined with ongoing issues on the e-visa platform and the inability to process e-visas at many border posts, has raised questions among tourists about Namibia’s commitment to being a welcoming destination.
“The recent announcement of additional fees for visas on arrival does not bode well for Namibia’s efforts to create a welcoming atmosphere for incoming visitors,” Paetzold warned.
HAN released updated occupancy statistics for August, traditionally the busiest month for Namibian tourism, coinciding with the peak holiday season in Central Europe, Namibia’s main source market.
According to Paetzold, data submitted by 100 members across different categories and regions reflects an overall occupancy rate of 67.5% for August.
This figure compares well with 2024 (67.53%) and even slightly exceeds the rate recorded in 2019 (61.18%) before the Covid-19 pandemic.
Paetzold highlighted particularly strong growth in arrivals from Italy, France and the German-speaking markets of Austria, Germany and Switzerland.
“This is evidence that the appetite for Namibia remains strong and that the proactive marketing efforts by the Namibia Tourism Board (NTB) and the private sector in those markets are yielding positive results,” she said.
HAN called for an “all-of-government approach” to ensure smooth travel processes to and within Namibia, as well as for cross-border tourism with other Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries.
“Further tourism growth can and will only be possible with concerted efforts to make access and travel more convenient and efficient,” Paetzold concluded. - [email protected]