Aus rising like a phoenix from the ashes

By: LUQMAN CLOETE at KEETMANSHOOP

A NEW N$1 million community tourist information centre has opened in the southern settlement of Aus.

Officiating at the opening ceremony, Minister of Environment and

Tourism Willem Konjore dispelled the belief that community tourism

in the south is not achieving anything.

"The community of Aus is almost rising like a phoenix from the

ashes to become a shining example of a new model of socio-economic

partnership - one where the community, Government and private

sector are harnessing resources for development."

 

Konjore said.

 

He urged the community to take advantage of the private sector's

support.

 

However, he also warned the community not to misuse it.

 

The establishment of the information centre was mainly funded by

the European Union (EU) and the Succulent Karoo Ecosystem Programme

(SKEP).

 

The information centre includes a café and a souvenir

shop.

 

The information centre on the way into Aus introduces tourists

to the numerous and in some cases inconspicuous attractions of the

area.

 

It also urges the protection and sustainable use of natural

resources.

 

The centre is managed by a young entrepreneur, Claudia Baisitse,

who grew up in Aus and employs three of the local residents.

 

With more than 500 plant species, the area is seen as a hotspot

of Namibian flora.

 

Three desert systems overlap at Aus: the Dune Namib, the Nama

Karoo and the Succulent Karoo, which is the most biodiverse desert

on earth.

 

"We are applying for conservancy status for the townlands of Aus

in order to be able to better protect our unique nature," Baisitse

said.

 

Speaking at the same event, Karas Governor Dawid Boois

emphasised the importance of tourism as the driving force behind

development in Aus and in southern Namibia.

 

"Aus is one of the poorest communities in Namibia, despite its

proximity to some of the leading economic contributors of the

country such as the mining and fishing sectors," Boois said.

 

He said tourism in the region still left much to be desired and

an effort had to be made to attract more tourists.

 

"The community of Aus is almost rising like a phoenix from the

ashes to become a shining example of a new model of socio-economic

partnership - one where the community, Government and private

sector are harnessing resources for development."Konjore said.He

urged the community to take advantage of the private sector's

support.However, he also warned the community not to misuse it.The

establishment of the information centre was mainly funded by the

European Union (EU) and the Succulent Karoo Ecosystem Programme

(SKEP).The information centre includes a café and a souvenir

shop.The information centre on the way into Aus introduces tourists

to the numerous and in some cases inconspicuous attractions of the

area.It also urges the protection and sustainable use of natural

resources.The centre is managed by a young entrepreneur, Claudia

Baisitse, who grew up in Aus and employs three of the local

residents.With more than 500 plant species, the area is seen as a

hotspot of Namibian flora.Three desert systems overlap at Aus: the

Dune Namib, the Nama Karoo and the Succulent Karoo, which is the

most biodiverse desert on earth."We are applying for conservancy

status for the townlands of Aus in order to be able to better

protect our unique nature," Baisitse said.Speaking at the same

event, Karas Governor Dawid Boois emphasised the importance of

tourism as the driving force behind development in Aus and in

southern Namibia."Aus is one of the poorest communities in Namibia,

despite its proximity to some of the leading economic contributors

of the country such as the mining and fishing sectors," Boois

said.He said tourism in the region still left much to be desired

and an effort had to be made to attract more tourists.

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