Etosha is affordable, charges the NWR

THE refurbishing of all three resorts in the Etosha National Park will not make them too expensive for Namibians, the boss of Namibia’s State-owned resorts company insists.

Tobie Aupindi, Managing Director of Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR), who gave a short presentation in the ‘Park Talks’ series of public meetings in Windhoek on Monday night, said Namibia had to offer world-class accommodation standards to tourists. “We have to make business and turn NWR around from a loss-making enterprise into a successful company.The renovations at Halali, Okaukuejo and Namutoni were very necessary since Etosha is the most important tourist attraction in Namibia,” he added.PUBLIC BEEFS However, several readers’ letters from local and international tourists and the tourism industry, published in The Namibian recently, charged that the price increases announced by the NWR for all its resorts from October will make them unaffordable to Namibians and other tourists who cannot afford five-star accommodation.A member of the public told Aupindi on Monday that a nine-day trip to Etosha for a family with two children would now cost them about N$32 000, transport costs included.A trip to Mauritius for the same length of time – including airfare – costs just N$34 000.”Namibians enjoy a 25 per cent discount and we will provide some specials soon for long school holidays like in December,” Aupindi said.In an apparent snub of meat-loving Namibians, Etosha’s Namutoni resort will no longer offer braai (barbecue) facilities once the renovations are completed in two months’ time.Tourists will be obliged to eat at the two restaurants to be established in the old fort.At Okaukuejo and Halali, only a few bungalows will retain their braai facilities.”We have to make business and turn NWR around from a loss-making enterprise into a successful company.The renovations at Halali, Okaukuejo and Namutoni were very necessary since Etosha is the most important tourist attraction in Namibia,” he added. PUBLIC BEEFS However, several readers’ letters from local and international tourists and the tourism industry, published in The Namibian recently, charged that the price increases announced by the NWR for all its resorts from October will make them unaffordable to Namibians and other tourists who cannot afford five-star accommodation.A member of the public told Aupindi on Monday that a nine-day trip to Etosha for a family with two children would now cost them about N$32 000, transport costs included.A trip to Mauritius for the same length of time – including airfare – costs just N$34 000.”Namibians enjoy a 25 per cent discount and we will provide some specials soon for long school holidays like in December,” Aupindi said.In an apparent snub of meat-loving Namibians, Etosha’s Namutoni resort will no longer offer braai (barbecue) facilities once the renovations are completed in two months’ time.Tourists will be obliged to eat at the two restaurants to be established in the old fort.At Okaukuejo and Halali, only a few bungalows will retain their braai facilities.