NMH announces rebrand

To take up the challenge of going beyond borders, Namibia Media Holdings has embarked on a rebranding exercise and will now be known as Network Media Hub (NMH).This was announced by NMH CEO Able Botha at the opening of the 25th Namibia Tourism Expo yesterday afternoon at the Windhoek Country Club Resort. Organised by NMH, the expo is taking place under the theme ‘Beyond Borders’.Botha said tourism knows no borders and therefore the expo is expanding its reach to neighbouring countries. “We are focusing on the regions of the /Ai -/Ais Richtersveld Transfrontier Park, the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, the Iona Skeleton Coast Transfrontier Park and the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TCFA),” he said. By focusing on this theme, NMH is showing its commitment to taking tourism to all corners of the country, he said, adding that it is critical that tourism stakeholders work together to enhance their reach for years to come.“With our Enjoy brand, we wish to not only spread the message of tourism in the regions, but to also ensure that tourists engage our lodges. Not just our flagship lodges, but those that are key to our communities, our towns and our economy. Enjoy will promote tourism for local communities and tours, giving them a voice,” Botha said.He added that the Enjoy brand aims to reach over 5 000 lodges in the regions. This will ensure that these lodges also have a voice in the bigger world of tourism.Still going strongNMH currently reaches over one million people daily, and the company intends to grow this to two million in the next 24 months, Botha said.Meanwhile, NMH’s printing division Newsprint Namibia has been rebranded to Print Media Hub. This is to ensure that the message of print, which is still going strong, is focused on all forms of print, the CEO noted.“We currently reach over 300 000 people on a daily basis through print media and we intend to grow that number to over one million within the next two years.” NMH recognises the power of artificial intelligence (AI) and has engaged with this technology extensively, Botha said. “We have developed a chatbot that currently reaches over 40 000 people daily and we continue to develop AI products at the same rate.”NMH’s brands now include: Network Intellectual Assets, Network Data Hub, Network Sports Hub, Network Television, Network Administrative Services and Network Innovation Hub.Enormous economic opportunitiesAlso speaking at the opening, tourism minister Pohamba Shifeta said the greater emphasis of the expo’s theme is on the optimisation of unfolding economic tourism opportunities in the KAZA TFCA region. KAZA lies in the Kavango and Zambezi river basins where Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe converge.Shifeta said on the Namibian side, river systems include the Linyati and the Kwando as well as the Zambezi-Chobe floodplain. These ecosystems enrich the quality of visitor experiences and increase the monetary value of tourism offerings in the area, he added.“Moreover, KAZA provides enormous economic opportunities to the rural communities and youth within the region to establish community-based tourism enterprises for economic benefits.”KAZA is a tourism destination that provides a significant economic link or hub for building robust ecological systems and a sustainable tourism economy to benefit the people of the five countries, the minister said.According to him, tourism in Namibia directly contributes 6.9% to the gross domestic product (GDP) - or N$14.3 billion in monetary value. The total direct employment by tourism-related industries stands at 57 277 people, which translates to 7.9% of total employment. The Namibia Tourism Expo continues to add value to the tourism sector by creating an enabling opportunity for many exhibitors to display and market their services and product offering to visitors, Shifeta said.“Furthermore, the expo creates much-needed awareness of the importance of the tourism economy and its positive multiplier effect and economic linkages to other many sectors.”Dr Nyambe Nyambe, CEO of the KAZA secretariat, said the conservation area is entering an exiting new phase with its promotion as a single destination. The fun continues today at the Namibia Tourism Expo, with doors opening at 16:00. The winners of the Republikein bridal couple competition will be announced at 18:00.

NMH announces rebrand

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Namibian Sun 2024-11-19

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NMH announces rebrand

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Namibian Sun 2024-11-19

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