Maria David
TOURISM across the globe is being recognized as a crucial pillar of development and is one of the world’s most economic sectors.
As Covid-19 restrictions are lifted in the country, tourists’ arrivals in Namibia continues to double, an indication that the sector needs to be developed for economic benefit of the people.
Deputy Minister of Environment and Tourism, Heather Sibungo, said tourism is one of the backbones of Namibia’s success story.
COMMEMORATION: King of Ondonga Fillemon Shuumbwa Nangolo and Deputy Minister of Environment & Tourism Heather Sibungo during the Commemoration of World Tourism Day. -Photos: Maria David. 
COMMEMORATION: King of Ondonga Fillemon Shuumbwa Nangolo and Deputy Minister of Environment & Tourism Heather Sibungo during the Commemoration of World Tourism Day. -Photos: Maria David. 
COMMEMORATION: King of Ondonga Fillemon Shuumbwa Nangolo and Deputy Minister of Environment & Tourism Heather Sibungo during the Commemoration of World Tourism Day. -Photos: Maria David. 
COMMEMORATION: King of Ondonga Fillemon Shuumbwa Nangolo and Deputy Minister of Environment & Tourism Heather Sibungo during the Commemoration of World Tourism Day. -Photos: Maria David.
Sibungo stated that Namibia has the necessary frame conditions for three tourism sectors to continue growing exponentially and that contributes to local economic development, employment creation, community empowerment and poverty alleviation.
According to her, the World Tourism Day celebrations comes at a time when the tourism sector is recovering from the social and economic impact of the coronavirus.
“The decline in international tourist arrivals recorded in previous two years, is a major shock for developed economies,” she said.
Namibia now continue to experience since late 2021, to second quarter of 2022, a growing trend in tourism arrivals.
This, Heather stated that is a positive outlook and that they should continue to make Namibia an attractive destination through value addition by introducing new tourism services and products especially the heritage tourism and gastronomy.
She indicated that as government with a mandate to promote and grow tourism, they have a duty to create a conducive environment.
She further remarked that the ministry has developed the tourism recovery plan aimed to reboot the sector over the next three years, to foster the growth of the sector and to address constraints associated with Covid19.
Oshikoto governor Penda Ya Ndakolo, said the tourism industry has been rigid over the previous two challenging years due to the outbreak of coronavirus, which forced many of the sectors to close their doors.
Ya Ndakolo stated that the celebration in particular is very important in Oshikoto this year, following the launch of the Oshikoto Regional Tourism Forum, a very important platform that gives them an opportunity to put ideas together and come up with solutions to barriers hampering the growth of sustainable tourism development in the region.
“Tourism and Rural Development is more than ever relevant, as the global tourism sector embarks on to recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.
He added that tourism in rural areas offers important opportunities for sector recovery, making it crucial in supporting rural communities facing the economic and social impacts of the pandemic.
Ya Ndakolo then urged Namibians to embrace their heritage and help them re-build their local economies to usher in the benefits they envisioned when they fought for their democracy.
