Staff Reporter
THE Chief Executive Officer of the Namibia Tourism Board, (NTB) Digu //Naobeb has said that currently the government is looking into revising the law to bring to book, tourism establishments that do not offer value for their services.
//Naobeb made these remarks at the N/a’ankuse wildlife sanctuary on a media familiarization trip of the Kalahari route.
“We need to provide value for services, unfortunately in terms of the law, we can’t close any businesses which are not offering good services. We are in the process of amending the bill to empower the NTB, especially our inspectorate department to take more drastic measures on facilities that are not up to standard,” //Naobeb said.
The CEO said that the NTB has done inspections on properties of NWR and issued notices to the management of NWR, with regard to some facilities which are not up to par.” I’m informed that they are busy with renovations in Onkoshi, Halali, and Ais-Ais in the South. Some of these facilities have been closed and will only be open in late December,” //Naobeb said.
He however noted that there are conflicting views with regard to the regulation of the tourism sector, as the private sector has also voiced that the industry is over-regulated and that NTB is turned into a marketing agency and not a regulating body.
“International trends show that tourists wish to be immersed in local cultures and some would wish to share a room in Katutura. These are the things which may make us an uncompetitive destination,” //Naobeb said.
He added that currently, the NTB only apply levies to guest houses, lodges, hotels, backpackers and BnBs.
“We have about just over 3 000 of these businesses registered. Almost 50% of them are self-catering establishments, which are second homes owned by Namibians in Swakopmund, Henties Bay and Walvis Bay. This establishment brings in a revenue of below 1% to NTB, however, we use about 80% of our human resources to inspect these businesses. These are the things under review, whether or not it makes sense to regulate these establishments,” //Naobeb said.
