Namibia Wildlife Resort Hits Back

NAMIBIA Wildlife Resorts wishes to respond to the letter that appeared in The Namibian of Tuesday, 10 April 2007 on page 13.

The author(s), though failing to provide their face or name, claim to be a “concerned tour operator” and touched on issues relating to the upgrades of NWR facilities. Both the new management, the public, NWR shareholder and the market are fully aware of the dilapidated state that had been reached in all of the facilities, and the negative impact it had on the country’s tourism industry as a whole.The status of the NWR facilities had in fact become a subject of major criticism and complaints, and it is therefore surprising to believe that attempts to rectify the situation are equally met with a similar flurry of criticism.I think the writer’s motives are different from that of having the best interest of this company at heart and the country at large.It should be realised that the deterioration of infrastructure in Etosha and elsewhere did not come about overnight, but rather accumulated over years of mismanagement and neglect.It was for this reason that the new Management of NWR developed a turnaround strategy that was fully supported and approved by the Cabinet of the Republic of Namibia, the sole shareholder of the company.The turnaround strategy addresses the systematic improvement of all facilities in the NWR portfolio, as well as strategies to improve service delivery, and to run the company on sound business principles, as is expected by its shareholder.Priority was given to the three camps in the Etosha National Park, Okaukuejo, Halali and Namutoni, to coincide with the celebration of the Etosha Centenary, and in recognition that these camps had received some of the most severe criticisms over recent years.The Ministry of Environment and Tourism is also investing into improving park infrastructure such as gates, roads and signage, fences and waterholes to improve the visitor experience.Our belief is that the author’s intention is to destroy and in fact mislead the public on issues that are not true.The Etosha camps are going through a thorough refurbishment as mandated by the Cabinet under its resolution number 12th/2006.06/006.Halali is on the verge of completion, with only the landscaping of the camp left to be done.Okaukuejo and Namutoni are both undergoing reconstruction that will be finished well in time for the main celebration of the Etosha Centenary in September 2007 to be held at Namutoni.Likewise the development of the new eco-friendly facility Sossus Dune Lodge, the first lodge ever built by NWR en route from Sesriem to Sossusvlei coincides with the centenary year of the Namib section of the Namib-Naukluft Park, and goes hand in hand with the redevelopment of the Sesriem Campsite, which includes the relocation of the petrol station, the sewerage system and ablutions, and improved and additional services to guests (new shop, restaurant/cafeteria complex, new swimming pool and bar).All in all the NWR redevelopment touches all aspects of the facilities that include not only the interior décor of rooms, but other fundamental issues such as the replacement of old sewerage systems, replacement of faulty electricity and wiring infrastructure, re-plumbing and replacing all underground piping, addressing drainage problems that lead to flooding, streamlining traffic and pedestrian flow, as well as improving living conditions for employees and most importantly the training of its staff.The turnaround strategy also addresses other factors that had a negative impact on the company, such as block bookings.In this regard, the way that certain tour operators conducted business with NWR in the past was extremely damaging.Not only was NWR losing substantial income through block bookings that were cancelled at the last minute with no penalty, but this practice also prevented access to the key resorts by other operators.Positive feedback has been received from many local and international tour operators who appreciate the changes, and NWR has already experienced significant increases in occupancy at its Etosha facilities compared to previous years.NWR Management is pleased to note that it has received numerous compliments from the tourism market of these ongoing renovations.NWR is also aware of some few local tourism operators who are circulating negative, fabrication and doctoring wrong information about the changes NWR is undertaking.This we are reliably informed is attributed to the fact that they stand to lose if NWR succeeds, because for many years some companies made millions of dollars out of an ailing NWR.We are also aware that some operators are upset about the newly introduced booking procedure which makes them accountable for the bookings they are making.NWR turnaround and should be seen to be a benefit to the entire tourism industry.All in all, NWR finds the letter very misguided, ill-advised and misleading and would wish to encourage those with concerns and queries to engage constructively with NWR Management, to obtain facts.Lastly, in order to separate facts from fiction NWR invites the author to the following official openings: the Opening of the refurbished Waterberg Resort on the 20 April 2007; the official opening of the newly built Sossus Dune Lodge on the 30 June 2007; the official opening of Halali during May 2007; the opening of Okaukuejo and Namutoni during the Etosha Centenary celebrations on the 28 September 2007.Tobie ya Aupindi Managing Director Namibia Wildlife ResortsBoth the new management, the public, NWR shareholder and the market are fully aware of the dilapidated state that had been reached in all of the facilities, and the negative impact it had on the country’s tourism industry as a whole.The status of the NWR facilities had in fact become a subject of major criticism and complaints, and it is therefore surprising to believe that attempts to rectify the situation are equally met with a similar flurry of criticism.I think the writer’s motives are different from that of having the best interest of this company at heart and the country at large. It should be realised that the deterioration of infrastructure in Etosha and elsewhere did not come about overnight, but rather accumulated over years of mismanagement and neglect.It was for this reason that the new Management of NWR developed a turnaround strategy that was fully supported and approved by the Cabinet of the Republic of Namibia, the sole shareholder of the company.The turnaround strategy addresses the systematic improvement of all facilities in the NWR portfolio, as well as strategies to improve service delivery, and to run the company on sound business principles, as is expected by its shareholder.Priority was given to the three camps in the Etosha National Park, Okaukuejo, Halali and Namutoni, to coincide with the celebration of the Etosha Centenary, and in recognition that these camps had received some of the most severe criticisms over recent years.The Ministry of Environment and Tourism is also investing into improving park infrastructure such as gates, roads and signage, fences and waterholes to improve the visitor experience.Our belief is that the author’s intention is to destroy and in fact mislead the public on issues that are not true.The Etosha camps are going through a thorough refurbishment as mandated by the Cabinet under its resolution number 12th/2006.06/006.Halali is on the verge of completion, with only the landscaping of the camp left to be done.Okaukuejo and Namutoni are both undergoing reconstruction that will be finished well in time for the main celebration of the Etosha Centenary in September 2007 to be held at Namutoni.Likewise the development of the new eco-friendly facility Sossus Dune Lodge, the first lodge ever built by NWR en route from Sesriem to Sossusvlei coincides with the centenary year of the Namib section of the Namib-Naukluft Park, and goes hand in hand with the redevelopment of the Sesriem Campsite, which includes the relocation of the petrol station, the sewerage system and ablutions, and improved and additional services to guests (new shop, restaurant/cafeteria complex, new swimming pool and bar).All in all the NWR redevelopment touches all aspects of the facilities that include not only the interior décor of rooms, but other fundamental issues such as the replacement of old sewerage systems, replacement of faulty electricity and wiring infrastructure, re-plumbing and replacing all underground piping, addressing drainage problems that lead to flooding, streamlining traffic and pedestrian flow, as well as improving living conditions for employees and most importantly the training of its staff.The turnaround strategy also addresses other factors that had a negative impact on the company, such as block bookings.In this regard, the way that certain tour operators conducted business with NWR in the past was extremely damaging.Not only was NWR losing substantial income through block bookings that were cancelled at the last minute with no penalty, but this practice also prevented access to the key resorts by other operators.Positive feedback has been received from many local and international tour operators who appreciate the changes, and NWR has already experienced significant increases in occupancy at its Etosha facilities compared to previous years.NWR Management is pleased to note that it has received numerous compliments from the tourism market of these ongoing renovations.NWR is also aware of some few local tourism operators who are circulating negative, fabrication and doctoring wrong information about the changes NWR is undertaking.This we are reliably informed is attributed to the fact that they stand to lose if NWR succeeds, because for many years some companies made millions of dollars out of an ailing NWR. We are also aware that some operators are upset about the newly introduced booking procedure which makes them accountable for the bookings they are making.NWR turnaround and should be seen to be a benefit to the entire tourism industry.All in all, NWR finds the letter very misguided, ill-advised and misleading and would wish to encourage those with concerns and queries to engage constructively with NWR Management, to obtain facts.Lastly, in order to separate facts from fiction NWR invites the author to the following official openings: the Opening of the refurbished Waterberg Resort on the 20 April 2007; the official opening of the newly built Sossus Dune Lodge on the 30 June 2007; the official opening of Halali during May 2007; the opening of Okaukuejo and Namutoni during the Etosha Centenary celebrations on the 28 September 2007.Tobie ya Aupindi Managing Director Namibia Wildlife Resorts