Political Perspective … The unfriendly ‘Smile’ on the face of Africa

ONE BIG positive for our country right now (and there are so few of them) is that 2016 seems to have been a boom year for tourism in Namibia. In the words of some connected to the industry, perhaps even the best year ever.

Given the current depressed economic climate in the country, it is important that we try to capitalise on this upsurge in visitor numbers, but there are factors letting us down, possibly even helping to drive tourists away instead.

Too often lately, I have heard complaints about those officials who preside over the entry points to Namibia, whether it be our land borders, or customs and immigration officers at Hosea Kutako International Airport. And although I’m not a tourist, I’ve been on the receiving end of this unfriendliness myself.

Many who travel by road to South Africa, for example, speak of the dysfunction, inefficiencies and even hostility at border posts, as compared to far more friendly and efficient service when they reach the other side. Too often, I’ve heard that even our facilities are dirty, unkempt and dilapidated, and officials largely disinterested and surly. While these conditions are bad enough, they affect primarily Namibians and South Africans travelling between the two countries, and not foreign tourists, who mainly come by air.

Hosea Kutako is the main entry point for international visitors, who immediately form impressions about the country based on the kind of welcome they receive on arrival. And mostly, it’s not a good one. It flies in the face of our stated intent to try and attract more visitors, also investors, to our beautiful country. Most of them love the experience of coming to Namibia, but are singularly unimpressed by the disagreeable reception they are frequently subjected to when entering or leaving the country.

We’re all aware of the challenges facing the border control officials, who have come under fire recently for their failure to intercept a Chinese national leaving the country with a haul of rhino horns. The pressure on them to be on constant alert for these crimes, especially the illegal trade in our endangered species, is surely great at this point. It falls on them to be vigilant and rigorous, yet firm and fair, when doing their job.

Mere passport control is another matter. I get angry myself, when leaving or entering the country, and officials deliberately ignore one’s greetings, for example. I took issue with one who failed to reciprocate my salutation, pointing out to her that common politeness, if not friendliness, would be appreciated by both myself as a Namibian as well as the many others she comes into contact with. We’ve all heard about extreme rudeness, even draconian acts towards sometimes naive visitors, and it doesn’t reflect well on Namibia as a prime tourist destination.

Long distance travel can be exhausting, and people come a long way to visit our country. The last thing they need is to be met with an unwelcome attitude by dissatisfied civil servants who seem to hate their jobs. Their intent should not be to cow travellers into submission or make them feel like criminals, even in insignificant cases such as failing to fill out their entry forms correctly.

Whether they were received with a welcoming attitude or not will make all the difference when it comes to decisions of tourists whether to visit Namibia again, or to instead go someplace else where they’ll be made to feel more appreciated.

The question is whether officials are insufficiently trained, or have attitude problems, or if it’s a combination of both. Either way, it’s no excuse. One shouldn’t need training to be polite or to have manners. It is something which is surely taught in most homes. A country which prides itself on being a ‘smile’ on the face of Africa, should live up to that motto, and ensure that officials are both professional at what they do while treating people with courtesy. It’s not too much to ask.

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