INDIVIDUALS who wish to enter Namibia for conservation tourism will now be required to apply for ordinary holiday visas instead of employment permits or work visas.
This was announced in a media statement issued on Friday by the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration.
“From now on, conservation tourism will be regarded a normal tourism and as such, does not require employment permits or work visa, “said the ministry.
This change in regulations comes with the ministry’s realisation of the direct benefit this emerging form of tourism has on operators in the tourism industry.
“Conservation tourism comprises of tourists paying to stay at conservation farms and as part of the experience, accompany teams that are feeding animals in the conservation farms for them to experience closeness to wildlife,” said the ministry.
The ministry however said that researchers and individuals coming for veterinary purposes are excluded from being classified as normal or holiday tourists.
