Promote local and regional tourism

Francoise Steynberg WINDHOEKWith the tourism sector having been brought to its knees by the Covid-19 pandemic, political parties weighed in on how local and regional tourism can be supported and promoted.Republican Party (RP) leader Henk Mudge said it’s not the mandate of political parties to boost tourism.“Our tourism organisations are very professional and know what to do to attract tourists and deliver top-class services to them,” he said.“The problem lies with the government. Namibia is one of the countries with the lowest number of Covid cases and deaths, so our government has been napping.”Mudge said he believes government should have started marketing Namibia as a safe destination long ago, and should “stop these senseless measures”.The RP believes the borders should be opened and tourism establishments should be entrusted to take the necessary precautions.“They are responsible and know what to do,” Mudge said.No contingency planThe Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) said government had no contingency plan to ease the pandemic’s impact on the tourism industry.“Discounts should be offered, which should be subsidised by the government,” RDP leader Mike Kavekotora said.“All government officials on official trips should be encouraged to make use of our hotels and lodges,” he added.SADC must cooperateKavekotora also said member states of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) should get together and decide on a coordinated effort to revive tourism.Rudi van Wyk, chairman of the Rehoboth Independent Town Management Association (RITMA), said his town’s tourist attractions, such as the Reho Spa, hot springs, town hall, monuments and historic gravesites, should be renovated.“This can be done as community projects. Rehoboth has the finest artisans in the country,” Van Wyk said.He said the town should be marketed as a tourist destination locally as well as abroad, adding that cooperation between the town council and residents is crucial.“RITMA will make transparency and communication, which are lacking at the moment, its main priority.”Plan of actionFurthermore, Van Wyk said the Namibian Chamber of Commerce and Industry should be involved in drafting a plan of action.The town has much in the way of tourism attractions, including Lake Oanob Resort and the Acacia forest, he said.The association also urged farmers to make use of the government’s game breeding programme to restock their farms with wildlife. - francoise@republikein.com.na

Promote local and regional tourism

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-16

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Promote local and regional tourism

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-16

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