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Tourism arrivals in Namibia still remain abysmal after COVID-19. Only 15% of tourists have visited the country post-Covid-19 when compared to 1.5 million in 2019. The figures show that Namibia’s tourism recovery is still far from regaining its pre-Covid-19 status. Though tourist arrivals are on the increase since 2021 by 37.3% from 169 565 in 2020 to 232,756 arrivals in 2021, and by 4.6% translating to 243,466 in the 2022 tourism season.
Tourism arrivals in Namibia still remain abysmal after the COVID. Only 15% of tourists have visited the country post-Covid-19 when compared to 1.5 million in 2019. The figures show that Namibia’s tourism recovery is still far from regaining its pre-Covid-19 status. Though tourist arrivals are on the increase since 2021 by 37.3% from 169 565 in 2020 to 232,756 arrivals in 2021, and by 4.6% translating to 243,466 in the 2022 tourism season.
This growth is commendable considering the negative impacts of Covid-19 pandemic on the tourism sector globally and on Namibia in particular, since its onset in late 2019. However, visitor numbers remain very low for the country as it only represents about 15% of the pre-Covid-19 numbers which was 1 595,973, and equally too less to regain the pre-Covid employment numbers in the sector, stated Namibian Tourism Minister, Pohamba Shifeta.
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It is a well-known fact that the Covid-19 pandemic was devastating due to global travel restrictions and border closures. The tourism economy was not spared either and many companies including NTB felt the negative effects of the pandemic in the last two years. However, the situation has since improved in 2021 and 2022 respectively. Although the collection and revenues from tourism levies and other sources are low, NTB was able to afford the payment of its staff salaries and related services through its own revenue generation and support from Government budget allocation, stated the tourism Minister.
In terms of the recovery plan, Shifeta said, NTB has an Integrated Strategic Business Plan and a Marketing Strategy in place for the domestic, regional, and international markets.
