Namibia’s tourism sector could be poised for significant transformation as it pivots toward non-traditional markets, according to a recent report by Simonis Storm economist Almandro Jansen.
The report outlines several key implications for the sector’s future, driven by efforts to diversify tourist source markets beyond Europe and southern Africa.
Jansen says targeting regions such as Asia, the United Arab Emirates and North America could open up new revenue streams while shielding the industry from economic shocks in traditional markets.
“Increased tourist inflows are expected to boost foreign currency earnings, create jobs and drive investment in hospitality and transport,” he says.
However, attracting long-haul travellers from these regions will require improvements in air connectivity and tourism-related infrastructure.
Enhanced flight routes and upgraded facilities are seen as critical to making Namibia more accessible to international visitors.
In the meantime, nationwide hospitality occupancy rose to 54.94%, slightly above pre-pandemic levels and marking the highest monthly rate recorded this year.
Jansen says this represents a 24.1% month-on-month increase, with the year-to-date average now at 41.49%, though still below the 2019 benchmark of 44.92%.
Photo: Contributed
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