THE NWR is aware that certain members of the print media have recently started making the company a scapegoat for the vindictiveness of other interested parties.
It is really horrifying to see certain lodge tails wagging the newspaper dog. NWR is only too pleased to put the record straight as far as Day Visitor Fees are concerned.These have indeed been introduced as from 1 January 2004, but the industry was given ample warning.As far back as October 2003 the first press releases went out to inform both the public and the industry of an increase in NWR tariffs and the announcement that Day Visitor Fees would be introduced.Much has been said and written about the Day Visitor Fees and the NWR has met a delegation from the Tour and Safari Association (TASA) regarding these fees.These communications are constructively ongoing.Since there is much confusion amongst the public and the industry about Park Entrance Fees and Day Visitor Fees, NWR would like to take this opportunity to clear the air about the fees.The Ministry of Environment & Tourism (MET) charges Park Entrance Fees.The NWR merely acts as a collection agent on behalf of the Ministry and these fees are paid over to MET at regular intervals.Day Visitor Fees have been introduced by the NWR at certain resorts and they are as follows: Children: …. N$ 10 Namibian Adults: …. N$ 40 Non-Namibian Adults: …. N$ 80Allow me to sketch some of the background that necessitated the introduction of such a fee:Until before the introduction of the Day Visitors Fee in January 2004, the NWR did not directly generate any revenue from persons who visited its resorts on a day-only basis although they were utilising its services and facilities such as water, sanitation, swimming polls, spas, etc.The Day Visitor Fee also includes the use of the swimming pool and thermal bath (where applicable).In the past, many other hospitality establishments located in the vicinity of the NWR resorts found it a useful marketing tool to attract clients for overnight stays since they could then have their clients drive in and out of the resorts/parks without additional costs to themselves.Despite providing a necessary service, the NWR did not derive any benefits or significant business from this type of client.As these visitors only paid the MET Park Entrance Fees, the NWR had no way of recouping expenditure incurred by tourists not staying in resorts.With ever-increasing maintenance and other costs, the NWR had to devise measures to recoup some of the costs occurring through maintenance and the upkeep of NWR services and facilities.Hence, the introduction of the Day Visitor Fee on 1 January 2004 at selected resorts/camps.A Day Visitor is, for this purpose, defined as a person who visits NWR resorts and establishments without a valid booking for accommodation D be it a bungalow or camping site, reservations for a braai (barbecue) area, a workshop-related function, meals, etc.The introduction of this fee structure is limited to places where there is a practical usage or possibility of such usage of NWR services and/or a facilities during day visits.At some resorts, such as Gross Barmen, Reho Spa, Popa Falls, Luderitz (Shark Island) and Duwisib Castle, there is only one fee structure called a DAY VISITOR FEE.At other establishments, such as the three Etosha resorts (Okaukuejo, Halali & Namutoni), Waterberg, Hardap, Daan Viljoen, Ai-Ais/Hobas and Von Bach, there is a two-tier fee structure, namely; the MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT & TOURISMOs PARK ENTRANCE FEE and the NWR DAY VISITOR FEE (strictly for day visitors only – not overnight visitors).Excluded from paying a Day Visitor Fee are clients/visitors who have booked a bona fide meal (breakfast, lunch or dinner strictly and not a kiosk-type of light meal) in the restaurants of our resorts upon presentation of proof of payment for such meals.Currently, the NWR does not charge Day Visitor Fees at Terrace Bay, Sesriem/Sossusvlei, the Miles (Mile 14, Jakkalsputs, 72, 108, Torra Bay), Khaudum & Sikereti and the Namib Naukluft Park.The recent articles focused on Hobas and the journalist involved was inexperienced, negligent or plainly vindictive when he claimed that visitors to this popular camping site have to pay N$ 80 for merely looking at the Fish River Canyon from the viewing point.Had the journalist gone just a little further in his enquiries, he would have established that a visitor paying a Day Visitor Fee at Hobas is entitled to all the amenities and facilities of Ai-Ais as well – without paying another cent!!!This – putting it simply – means that the visitors to Hobas could have driven a mere 80 or so kilometres to Ai-Ais and have enjoyed the thermal pool with its invigorating and revitalising mineral water, the outside pool, the tennis courts, the bar as well as the shop and all other facilities offered to our clients at Ai-Ais.In fact, these visitors would even have used the opportunity to enter the Fish River Canyon a few kilometres from the resort.This information was, unfortunately, never communicated to the visitors by the lodge owner for whatever ulterior motive he may have had – neither did the journalist publish this very important and germane information in his various reports. Again, the NWR is not aware of the reason for this omission.While the NWR takes cognizance of the fact that a revision of the Day Visitor Fee may be considered, it would like to point out that NWR management is, unfortunately, not able to change, amend, suspend or abrogate any decision taken by the Board of Directors.Several solutions have already been proposed and debated, but management does not have a mandate from the Board of Directors for unilateral actions of this nature, and any action taken in this regard can only be taken by the directors themselves at a properly constituted board meeting.The NWR trusts that this explanation will lessen the vehement and unwarranted attacks against the organisation.Any journalist, tour operator, lodge owner or, in fact, any member of the public, is welcome to contact our PRO Peter Mietzner for information on this and any other relevant issue.His (24-hour, seven days a week) telephone number is: 081 124 00 24.- Peter Mietzner – Acting GM: Corporate Affairs & Public Relations – NWRNWR is only too pleased to put the record straight as far as Day Visitor Fees are concerned.These have indeed been introduced as from 1 January 2004, but the industry was given ample warning. As far back as October 2003 the first press releases went out to inform both the public and the industry of an increase in NWR tariffs and the announcement that Day Visitor Fees would be introduced.Much has been said and written about the Day Visitor Fees and the NWR has met a delegation from the Tour and Safari Association (TASA) regarding these fees. These communications are constructively ongoing.Since there is much confusion amongst the public and the industry about Park Entrance Fees and Day Visitor Fees, NWR would like to take this opportunity to clear the air about the fees.The Ministry of Environment & Tourism (MET) charges Park Entrance Fees. The NWR merely acts as a collection agent on behalf of the Ministry and these fees are paid over to MET at regular intervals.Day Visitor Fees have been introduced by the NWR at certain resorts and they are as follows: Children: …. N$ 10 Namibian Adults: …. N$ 40 Non-Namibian Adults: …. N$ 80Allow me to sketch some of the background that necessitated the introduction of such a fee:Until before the introduction of the Day Visitors Fee in January 2004, the NWR did not directly generate any revenue from persons who visited its resorts on a day-only basis although they were utilising its services and facilities such as water, sanitation, swimming polls, spas, etc.The Day Visitor Fee also includes the use of the swimming pool and thermal bath (where applicable).In the past, many other hospitality establishments located in the vicinity of the NWR resorts found it a useful marketing tool to attract clients for overnight stays since they could then have their clients drive in and out of the re
sorts/parks without additional costs to themselves.Despite providing a necessary service, the NWR did not derive any benefits or significant business from this type of client. As these visitors only paid the MET Park Entrance Fees, the NWR had no way of recouping expenditure incurred by tourists not staying in resorts. With ever-increasing maintenance and other costs, the NWR had to devise measures to recoup some of the costs occurring through maintenance and the upkeep of NWR services and facilities.Hence, the introduction of the Day Visitor Fee on 1 January 2004 at selected resorts/camps.A Day Visitor is, for this purpose, defined as a person who visits NWR resorts and establishments without a valid booking for accommodation D be it a bungalow or camping site, reservations for a braai (barbecue) area, a workshop-related function, meals, etc.The introduction of this fee structure is limited to places where there is a practical usage or possibility of such usage of NWR services and/or a facilities during day visits.At some resorts, such as Gross Barmen, Reho Spa, Popa Falls, Luderitz (Shark Island) and Duwisib Castle, there is only one fee structure called a DAY VISITOR FEE.At other establishments, such as the three Etosha resorts (Okaukuejo, Halali & Namutoni), Waterberg, Hardap, Daan Viljoen, Ai-Ais/Hobas and Von Bach, there is a two-tier fee structure, namely; the MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT & TOURISMOs PARK ENTRANCE FEE and the NWR DAY VISITOR FEE (strictly for day visitors only – not overnight visitors).Excluded from paying a Day Visitor Fee are clients/visitors who have booked a bona fide meal (breakfast, lunch or dinner strictly and not a kiosk-type of light meal) in the restaurants of our resorts upon presentation of proof of payment for such meals.Currently, the NWR does not charge Day Visitor Fees at Terrace Bay, Sesriem/Sossusvlei, the Miles (Mile 14, Jakkalsputs, 72, 108, Torra Bay), Khaudum & Sikereti and the Namib Naukluft Park.The recent articles focused on Hobas and the journalist involved was inexperienced, negligent or plainly vindictive when he claimed that visitors to this popular camping site have to pay N$ 80 for merely looking at the Fish River Canyon from the viewing point.Had the journalist gone just a little further in his enquiries, he would have established that a visitor paying a Day Visitor Fee at Hobas is entitled to all the amenities and facilities of Ai-Ais as well – without paying another cent!!!This – putting it simply – means that the visitors to Hobas could have driven a mere 80 or so kilometres to Ai-Ais and have enjoyed the thermal pool with its invigorating and revitalising mineral water, the outside pool, the tennis courts, the bar as well as the shop and all other facilities offered to our clients at Ai-Ais. In fact, these visitors would even have used the opportunity to enter the Fish River Canyon a few kilometres from the resort.This information was, unfortunately, never communicated to the visitors by the lodge owner for whatever ulterior motive he may have had – neither did the journalist publish this very important and germane information in his various reports. Again, the NWR is not aware of the reason for this omission.While the NWR takes cognizance of the fact that a revision of the Day Visitor Fee may be considered, it would like to point out that NWR management is, unfortunately, not able to change, amend, suspend or abrogate any decision taken by the Board of Directors. Several solutions have already been proposed and debated, but management does not have a mandate from the Board of Directors for unilateral actions of this nature, and any action taken in this regard can only be taken by the directors themselves at a properly constituted board meeting.The NWR trusts that this explanation will lessen the vehement and unwarranted attacks against the organisation. Any journalist, tour operator, lodge owner or, in fact, any member of the public, is welcome to contact our PRO Peter Mietzner for information on this and any other relevant issue. His (24-hour, seven days a week) telephone number is: 081 124 00 24.- Peter Mietzner – Acting GM: Corporate Affairs & Public Relations – NWR
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