Namibian resort tariffs skyrocket

MANY Namibians will have to dig out their tents and camping equipment to sleep out in the wild this December holiday, since State resorts like Mile 72 or Etosha are becoming unaffordable for ordinary citizens after price hikes of up to 200 per cent came into force this month.

Only the rich local elite and foreigners will now be able to see Namibia’s vast treasure of tourist attractions. Camping at a small coastal campsite like Jakkalsputz, which used to cost a family with four children N$1 700 for ten days, now costs N$4 000 for the same period.At the most popular resort in Etosha, Okaukuejo, the few bungalows directly at the waterhole used to cost N$1 400 per night and accommodated four adults.They have been refurbished, which propelled them into the luxury segment.Since November 1, the bungalows cost N$1 500 per night but they now have only two beds.If one person wants to stay in a luxury bungalow, N$3 000 must be forked out.The new prices include breakfast, but many tourists will miss that because they usually go on game drives at sunrise.Breakfast is only served until 09h00, and most tourists return from their early game drives after that time.A standard double room at Okaukuejo with two beds used to cost N$500 per night, being N$250 per person.Since the start of this month, it costs N$1 300, or N$650 per person.The single rate is N$800.A standard four-bed chalet at the Hardap Dam resort, which used to cost N$400 per night or N$100 per adult, now costs N$400 per person, or N$1 600 per chalet, for one night.Although Namibians receive a 25 per cent discount at all 23 Government resorts, the new rack rates make them unaffordable for the majority of locals.The State-owned enterprise Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR) justified the huge increase by saying it needed to be ‘competitive’.”There are those who are already reasoning that NWR may become too expensive for Namibians to afford,” NWR Managing Director Tobie Aupindi said in an earlier press statement.”While we appreciate their concern and will continue to be a proud Namibian company, we realise that we do not get financial subsidy from anywhere to keep our prices ‘relative’ for the benefit of Namibians.”There are measures that will be implemented to encourage Namibians to visit and experience the natural resources in our country.NWR operates in a competitive environment and is subjected to market forces.”Only 17 per cent of NWR reservations were made by Namibians, the remaining 83 per cent were foreign travellers, according to NWR.”The focus is not on price, but rather on customer satisfaction and competitiveness, whilst maximising the shareholder’s return on investment,” according to Aupindi.New prices for two adults minus 25% discount for Namibians Okaukuejo double room was N$500 per day now N$1 500 per day Halali Bush Chalet was N$500 per day now N$1 500 per day Waterberg campsite was N$110 per day now N$300 per day Sesriem campsite was N$200 per day now N$600 per day.Camping at a small coastal campsite like Jakkalsputz, which used to cost a family with four children N$1 700 for ten days, now costs N$4 000 for the same period.At the most popular resort in Etosha, Okaukuejo, the few bungalows directly at the waterhole used to cost N$1 400 per night and accommodated four adults.They have been refurbished, which propelled them into the luxury segment.Since November 1, the bungalows cost N$1 500 per night but they now have only two beds.If one person wants to stay in a luxury bungalow, N$3 000 must be forked out.The new prices include breakfast, but many tourists will miss that because they usually go on game drives at sunrise.Breakfast is only served until 09h00, and most tourists return from their early game drives after that time.A standard double room at Okaukuejo with two beds used to cost N$500 per night, being N$250 per person.Since the start of this month, it costs N$1 300, or N$650 per person.The single rate is N$800.A standard four-bed chalet at the Hardap Dam resort, which used to cost N$400 per night or N$100 per adult, now costs N$400 per person, or N$1 600 per chalet, for one night.Although Namibians receive a 25 per cent discount at all 23 Government resorts, the new rack rates make them unaffordable for the majority of locals.The State-owned enterprise Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR) justified the huge increase by saying it needed to be ‘competitive’.”There are those who are already reasoning that NWR may become too expensive for Namibians to afford,” NWR Managing Director Tobie Aupindi said in an earlier press statement.”While we appreciate their concern and will continue to be a proud Namibian company, we realise that we do not get financial subsidy from anywhere to keep our prices ‘relative’ for the benefit of Namibians.”There are measures that will be implemented to encourage Namibians to visit and experience the natural resources in our country.NWR operates in a competitive environment and is subjected to market forces.”Only 17 per cent of NWR reservations were made by Namibians, the remaining 83 per cent were foreign travellers, according to NWR.”The focus is not on price, but rather on customer satisfaction and competitiveness, whilst maximising the shareholder’s return on investment,” according to Aupindi.New prices for two adults minus 25% discount for Namibians Okaukuejo double room was N$500 per day now N$1 500 per day Halali Bush Chalet was N$500 per day now N$1 500 per day Waterberg campsite was N$110 per day now N$300 per day Sesriem campsite was N$200 per day now N$600 per day.