Tourism: Bigger challenges than infighting
The tourism minister has urged the two parties to come to an amicable solution and to focus on the sector’s bigger problems.
ELLANIE SMIT
WINDHOEK
Tourism minister Pohamba Shifeta says tourism bosses who are fighting over fraud accusations should rather focus on bigger challenges within the sector.
The tourism ministry has given its assurance to the sector that any engagement it has with the founder of the Namibia Travel and Tourism Forum (NTTF), Nrupesh Soni, will not affect its cordial relationship with the industry.
This comes after the Hospitality Association of Namibia (Han) provided Shifeta with an investigation report by Cynetio Cyber Security Solutions, claiming it provides “indisputable evidence of fraud” by Soni.
Shifeta told Namibian Sun that the ministry’s engagement with Soni would not alter their engagement terms with Han or any other association in the tourism sector.
In a letter addressed to the minister, the Han executive said it is their responsibility to share Soni’s actions and intentions to enable authorities and the industry to make informed decisions before engaging further with individuals and entities claiming to work for the good of Namibia’s tourism sector while continuously discrediting elements within it.
Report
“The ministry read the content of the letter and provided a response or comments to Han accordingly. The attached documents from Han contained an investigation report, but not the outcome of the case, unfortunately.
“Thus, it makes it difficult for anyone reading it to determine whether the allegations were competently proven. But we took note of the concerns raised,” Shifeta said.
He added that the availed documents are only concerning the position of Han and that the ministry will require the outcome of the case for their records purposes.
“We request that the two parties find an amicable solution to allow an inclusive tourism development, flow of general tourism information to the benefit of all the sector and the general public in the country and spare their efforts and our time to concentrate on bigger sectorial challenges we have as a result of the negative impact of Covid-19,” Shifeta said.
According to Han, its role and activities have come under constant and repeated attack by Soni, who on various platforms attempted to discredit the association and its CEO, Gitta Paetzold.
Soni has denied the allegations made in the report and questioned its timing, saying that it was done to discredit him.
WINDHOEK
Tourism minister Pohamba Shifeta says tourism bosses who are fighting over fraud accusations should rather focus on bigger challenges within the sector.
The tourism ministry has given its assurance to the sector that any engagement it has with the founder of the Namibia Travel and Tourism Forum (NTTF), Nrupesh Soni, will not affect its cordial relationship with the industry.
This comes after the Hospitality Association of Namibia (Han) provided Shifeta with an investigation report by Cynetio Cyber Security Solutions, claiming it provides “indisputable evidence of fraud” by Soni.
Shifeta told Namibian Sun that the ministry’s engagement with Soni would not alter their engagement terms with Han or any other association in the tourism sector.
In a letter addressed to the minister, the Han executive said it is their responsibility to share Soni’s actions and intentions to enable authorities and the industry to make informed decisions before engaging further with individuals and entities claiming to work for the good of Namibia’s tourism sector while continuously discrediting elements within it.
Report
“The ministry read the content of the letter and provided a response or comments to Han accordingly. The attached documents from Han contained an investigation report, but not the outcome of the case, unfortunately.
“Thus, it makes it difficult for anyone reading it to determine whether the allegations were competently proven. But we took note of the concerns raised,” Shifeta said.
He added that the availed documents are only concerning the position of Han and that the ministry will require the outcome of the case for their records purposes.
“We request that the two parties find an amicable solution to allow an inclusive tourism development, flow of general tourism information to the benefit of all the sector and the general public in the country and spare their efforts and our time to concentrate on bigger sectorial challenges we have as a result of the negative impact of Covid-19,” Shifeta said.
According to Han, its role and activities have come under constant and repeated attack by Soni, who on various platforms attempted to discredit the association and its CEO, Gitta Paetzold.
Soni has denied the allegations made in the report and questioned its timing, saying that it was done to discredit him.
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