NTB cracks down on pirate tour operators

THE Namibia Tourism Board (NTB) has issued a stern warning to tourism establishments to pay their tourism levy to the board.

So far 1 869 accommodation and tourism-related businesses have applied to the NTB for registration and 1 476 have received full registration. Eighty-two conditional registrations were granted; a further 311 applications still have to be inspected and approved.A comprehensive list of registered establishments and businesses will be issued in September and all operators who are not registered or can show proof that they have applied will be taken to court and shut down.Namibia is nearing the height of the tourism season and the NTB is determined to close down illegal operators.Accommodation establishment owners have to fill out the tourism return forms and send them with proof of payment to the offices in Windhoek.Forms have to be filled out in full so that the NTB knows which regions are popular with which nationalities in their marketing drive.The tourism levy paid by businesses and establishments is not nearly enough to market Namibia aggressively.The NTB has a budget of about N$30 million out of which salaries and the day-to-day running of the NTB also have to be paid.A budget of N$70 million is needed to market Namibia properly.”We want to take out people who are not serious and who are spoilers of the industry by riding piggyback on other legitimate operators,” said Gideon Shilongo, Chief Executive Officer of the NTB.Eighty-two conditional registrations were granted; a further 311 applications still have to be inspected and approved.A comprehensive list of registered establishments and businesses will be issued in September and all operators who are not registered or can show proof that they have applied will be taken to court and shut down.Namibia is nearing the height of the tourism season and the NTB is determined to close down illegal operators.Accommodation establishment owners have to fill out the tourism return forms and send them with proof of payment to the offices in Windhoek.Forms have to be filled out in full so that the NTB knows which regions are popular with which nationalities in their marketing drive.The tourism levy paid by businesses and establishments is not nearly enough to market Namibia aggressively.The NTB has a budget of about N$30 million out of which salaries and the day-to-day running of the NTB also have to be paid.A budget of N$70 million is needed to market Namibia properly.”We want to take out people who are not serious and who are spoilers of the industry by riding piggyback on other legitimate operators,” said Gideon Shilongo, Chief Executive Officer of the NTB.