Sossus Dune Lodge ready for business

PRESIDENT Hifikepunye Pohamba on Saturday opened the new Sossus Dune Lodge of Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR) at Sesriem in the Namib-Naukluft Park.

The multi-million-dollar facility, built in an environmentally friendly manner, is the first accommodation facility to be built by NWR since Independence. Pohamba said tourism had become a very important economic sector in terms of job creation and its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product.”We can therefore rightly say that, for us, tourism is the goose that lays the golden egg,” he said.The President said tourism in other parts of the world was also growing rapidly and Namibia had to remain competitive in the global market.”This calls for innovative and creative ways of offering efficient services to your clients,” he said.He said the construction of the Sossus Dune Lodge was part of NWR’s turnaround strategy to bring its facilities in line with international standards.”This new facility opens up new opportunities for travellers to experience the beautiful scenery and open spaces that Namibia is endowed with,” said Pohamba.Environment and Tourism Minister Willem Konjore called on employees at the new lodge to offer warm and professional hospitality services to their guests.”Live up to the tourism core values of passion, integrity and customer-driven service.The ultimate success of this lodge lies in your hands,” he said.Konjore said he was pleased with the environmental friendliness of the new development.”As I look around me, there is little evidence to suggest that a few weeks ago this was still a construction site,” said Konjore.The lodge is expected to create about 56 jobs.It is perched on a wooden deck and overlooks the Sesriem Canyon.It has 25 bedroom units with a total of 50 beds.Pohamba said tourism had become a very important economic sector in terms of job creation and its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product.”We can therefore rightly say that, for us, tourism is the goose that lays the golden egg,” he said.The President said tourism in other parts of the world was also growing rapidly and Namibia had to remain competitive in the global market.”This calls for innovative and creative ways of offering efficient services to your clients,” he said.He said the construction of the Sossus Dune Lodge was part of NWR’s turnaround strategy to bring its facilities in line with international standards.”This new facility opens up new opportunities for travellers to experience the beautiful scenery and open spaces that Namibia is endowed with,” said Pohamba.Environment and Tourism Minister Willem Konjore called on employees at the new lodge to offer warm and professional hospitality services to their guests.”Live up to the tourism core values of passion, integrity and customer-driven service.The ultimate success of this lodge lies in your hands,” he said.Konjore said he was pleased with the environmental friendliness of the new development.”As I look around me, there is little evidence to suggest that a few weeks ago this was still a construction site,” said Konjore.The lodge is expected to create about 56 jobs.It is perched on a wooden deck and overlooks the Sesriem Canyon.It has 25 bedroom units with a total of 50 beds.