Business Reporter
THE Hospitality Association of Namibia (HAN) has reported that the month of April 2024 recorded a national average occupancy rate of over 58%, which is almost 7% higher than last year and even 4% higher than the average occupancy for April 2019.
Gitta Paetzhold, CEO of HAN, explained that European markets still dominate the Namibian tourism sector, with an encouraging increase in numbers from other European countries, although the German-speaking countries still maintain a prime position.
“What is exciting to note is that business travel seems to be returning slowly but surely, with over 13% of the accommodation registered in April added as business travel, especially in the hotel segment. Last year, business and conference travel constituted just over 8%, while in 2019, business travel made up 13.5% of the accommodation numbers and conferencing some 3.6%. With Namibia preparing to host major events in the coming weeks and months, we expect this trend to continue and in particular the conference business to pick up strongly,” Paetzhold said.
She added that admittedly, the reflection of the pure camping segment of the Namibian tourism industry is still understated, despite HAN having added a special column for this category in its reporting form.
“The visible presence of self-drive travelers on Namibian roads, and in towns, restaurants, and other tourism attractions points to a much higher prevalence of camping in the country, information that could possibly be held by the car rental companies offering fully equipped vehicles. While HAN solely relies on the contribution and input from its members, the registered, commercial tourism accommodation businesses listed in Namibia and with the NTB (arguably the bulk and most impactful component of the official tourism industry), it must be assumed that an additional stream of business and revenue flows into Namibia via online booking platforms and businesses listed on these platforms only, but barely captured in terms of official tourism revenue or tax declaration, yet with impact and footprint on the Namibian environment and infrastructure,” Paetzhold explained.
She concluded that with the formal Namibian tourism industry this week focusing on “Conscious Travel” and responsible tourism development during the “Travel Namibia Festival” event, the impact of tourism and the extent to which Namibia’s infrastructure and environment can sustain tourism development will come under scrutiny.
