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Tourist arrivals increase by 87% in 2023

Tourist arrivals increase by 87% in 2023

Staff Reporter

Tourist arrivals in Namibia surged by 87.4%, rising from 461,027 in 2022 to 863,872 in 2023, according to the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism.

This was revealed in the ministry’s Tourist Statistical Report, which presented a detailed analysis of international tourist arrivals in Namibia, highlighting the sector’s recovery and growth following the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The report details the significant increase in tourist arrivals, from a low of 169,565 in 2020 to a substantial 863,872 in 2023. This upward trend is a clear indicator of the industry’s resilience and its potential for further expansion,” the report reads.

Photo for illustrative purposes only. Photo: Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism.

According to the ministry’s report, the main source market for tourists to Namibia remains South Africa, with 349,728 arrivals in 2023. This is followed by Angola (112,336), Germany (79,989), Zambia (56,243), Botswana (56,157), Zimbabwe (30,460), the United States of America (25,526), the United Kingdom (18,426), France (16,002) and the Netherlands (14,822).

“All these countries together formed the top ten tourist markets to Namibia in 2023. In addition, Namibia saw a notable increase in tourists from emerging markets such as Canada and China. These markets are increasingly recognising Namibia’s diverse natural beauty and unique travel experiences,” the report added.

While the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and the Netherlands are among Namibia’s top ten tourist markets, these countries will also be impacted by new visa requirements announced by the Ministry of Home Affairs earlier this year.

These requirements, which will take effect from April 2025, stipulate that visitors from these countries will be issued visas upon arrival in Namibia for a fee of N$1600, in addition to online visa applications. This will also apply to tourists from Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Moldova, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.

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