Nam restricted from Dubai Expo despite N$20m allocation
ELLANIE SMIT
WINDHOEK
With residents from southern African countries banned from entering the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Namibia’s participation in the Dubai World Expo has been thrown into disarray.
The overall budget for Namibia’s participation at the expo is N$20 million, New Era reported late last year. This includes the N$15 million advanced from the fiscus and N$5 million sourced from additional funding, including financial contributions received from various entities.
The N$20 million budget is to cater for, among other things, the upkeep of 19 permanent staff members, their living expenses, flights, accommodation and medical insurance.
Namibia Tourism Board (NTB) CEO Digu //Naobeb confirmed the restriction while speaking at the launch of the tourism sector’s Covid-19 vaccination campaign this week.
The global tourism industry should unite in its condemnation of the disproportionate Covid-19 travel restrictions which have decimated the travel industry, he said.
“Initially concession was made that those participating at the expo could enter with special permits, but this too has been of late indefinitely suspended, except for national day events of various countries.”
//Naobeb said Namibia’s plans to shift its tourism week at the expo from January to the second week of February seems a far-fetched dream if this matter is not urgently resolved.
“This is just a fuss and it defeats all the energy and planning,” he said.
The expo started on 1 October 2021 and will end on 31 March.
Vaccination is crucial
Regardless of opinions on Covid-19 vaccines, a country’s rate of vaccination will play a crucial role in travel recovery, traveller confidence and positioning of the country as a safe tourism destination, the NTB CEO said.
He added that some operators within the industry have already started implementing their own vaccination policies supporting mandatory injections, and are sharing these with would-be travellers as a means to attract visitors.
“We cannot blame them for being proactive with such a policy because many customers are asking about their vaccination policy and some vaccinated travellers want assurances that everyone they will encounter during a trip is also vaccinated.”
//Naobeb said even if Namibia never makes vaccinations mandatory and does not require tourists to be fully vaccinated to enter the country, it is highly likely that vaccination policies of individual tourism companies will become an important differentiator in customers’ buying decisions.
Marketing
He added that there is no doubt that getting vaccinated and asking staff to get vaccinated will help tourism recovery.
“Having fully vaccinated frontline tourism staff inspires confidence among travellers and will be good for Namibia as a destination. It becomes a selling point and will help our marketing.”
At national level, it is important that government works with the industry and its stakeholders so everyone understands the benchmarks that need to be achieved to facilitate the lifting of travel restrictions, //Naobeb said.
“But such benchmarks or regulations must be consistently applied without any ambiguity to avoid confusion in the marketplace.”
[email protected]
WINDHOEK
With residents from southern African countries banned from entering the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Namibia’s participation in the Dubai World Expo has been thrown into disarray.
The overall budget for Namibia’s participation at the expo is N$20 million, New Era reported late last year. This includes the N$15 million advanced from the fiscus and N$5 million sourced from additional funding, including financial contributions received from various entities.
The N$20 million budget is to cater for, among other things, the upkeep of 19 permanent staff members, their living expenses, flights, accommodation and medical insurance.
Namibia Tourism Board (NTB) CEO Digu //Naobeb confirmed the restriction while speaking at the launch of the tourism sector’s Covid-19 vaccination campaign this week.
The global tourism industry should unite in its condemnation of the disproportionate Covid-19 travel restrictions which have decimated the travel industry, he said.
“Initially concession was made that those participating at the expo could enter with special permits, but this too has been of late indefinitely suspended, except for national day events of various countries.”
//Naobeb said Namibia’s plans to shift its tourism week at the expo from January to the second week of February seems a far-fetched dream if this matter is not urgently resolved.
“This is just a fuss and it defeats all the energy and planning,” he said.
The expo started on 1 October 2021 and will end on 31 March.
Vaccination is crucial
Regardless of opinions on Covid-19 vaccines, a country’s rate of vaccination will play a crucial role in travel recovery, traveller confidence and positioning of the country as a safe tourism destination, the NTB CEO said.
He added that some operators within the industry have already started implementing their own vaccination policies supporting mandatory injections, and are sharing these with would-be travellers as a means to attract visitors.
“We cannot blame them for being proactive with such a policy because many customers are asking about their vaccination policy and some vaccinated travellers want assurances that everyone they will encounter during a trip is also vaccinated.”
//Naobeb said even if Namibia never makes vaccinations mandatory and does not require tourists to be fully vaccinated to enter the country, it is highly likely that vaccination policies of individual tourism companies will become an important differentiator in customers’ buying decisions.
Marketing
He added that there is no doubt that getting vaccinated and asking staff to get vaccinated will help tourism recovery.
“Having fully vaccinated frontline tourism staff inspires confidence among travellers and will be good for Namibia as a destination. It becomes a selling point and will help our marketing.”
At national level, it is important that government works with the industry and its stakeholders so everyone understands the benchmarks that need to be achieved to facilitate the lifting of travel restrictions, //Naobeb said.
“But such benchmarks or regulations must be consistently applied without any ambiguity to avoid confusion in the marketplace.”
[email protected]
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