Coastal B&Bs the main culprits with bed levies

MOST small accommodation establishments at the coast have failed to pay their bed levies.

Digu //Naobeb, CEO of the Namibia Tourism Board (NTB) says that some establishments really did not have any customers for the year. But there were also establishments that submitted a zero return, even though they did do business.About 60 per cent of Namibia’s self-catering and bed-and-breakfast facilities are situated at the coast.”We have handed names to our lawyers, and they will be requested to give us proof that they had no business.”If they cannot provide us with this proof, they will be brought to court and face criminal charges because failure to pay these levies is against the law,” //Naobeb told The Namibian yesterday.There were also establishments that just “never bother” to pay their levies or submit their returns.These too would be dealt with legally, and //Naobeb said that these establishments could even face closure.”If there are any who are in doubt, they are welcome to contact us and we will gladly reconcile their accounts if it deems fit to do so,” he said.Self-catering and B&B establishments are legally obliged to pay bed levies to the NTB, which represents and markets Namibia internationally, to supplement its budget.They are charged at two per cent per bed per person.//Naobeb said the NTB collected only N$10,3 million on bed levies for the 2006-2007 financial year – nearly N$4,5 million short of the expected income considering the number of accommodation establishments nationwide.But there were also establishments that submitted a zero return, even though they did do business.About 60 per cent of Namibia’s self-catering and bed-and-breakfast facilities are situated at the coast.”We have handed names to our lawyers, and they will be requested to give us proof that they had no business.”If they cannot provide us with this proof, they will be brought to court and face criminal charges because failure to pay these levies is against the law,” //Naobeb told The Namibian yesterday.There were also establishments that just “never bother” to pay their levies or submit their returns.These too would be dealt with legally, and //Naobeb said that these establishments could even face closure.”If there are any who are in doubt, they are welcome to contact us and we will gladly reconcile their accounts if it deems fit to do so,” he said.Self-catering and B&B establishments are legally obliged to pay bed levies to the NTB, which represents and markets Namibia internationally, to supplement its budget.They are charged at two per cent per bed per person.//Naobeb said the NTB collected only N$10,3 million on bed levies for the 2006-2007 financial year – nearly N$4,5 million short of the expected income considering the number of accommodation establishments nationwide.