Tourism is everybody’s business – Jooste

A Government official has called on local people to become part of the country’s tourism industry by investing in the vital sector.

Officially opening the eighth Namibia Tourism Expo in Windhoek on Thursday, the Deputy Minister of Environment and Tourism, Leon Jooste, called on Namibians to be in the forefront in sampling the country’s tourism products and exploring the country. He expressed dismay at the fact that most locals did not appreciate what the country had to offer and failed to see the important role the local tourism sector had in their lives.He said visiting the annual tourism expo should not be only for decision makers and other high flyers, but that all Namibians should participate in it and come out of it with enough information to plan visits to places around the country.One of the objectives of the travel and tourism expo is to create local awareness about the vitality of the tourism sector.The other is to showcase Namibia to the rest of the world as a tourist destination.The tourism industry is an important sector and a driver of the local economy, as it is one of Namibia’s top foreign currency earners and a contributor to alleviating unemployment through job creation.According to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), local tourism accounted for around 11 per cent of Namibia’s GDP in 2004.Jooste said it was not only tourists who should do their bit for tourism, but that tour operators should also make their services and products less expensive.He also called on the few major local tour operators to actively participate in this annual event.”We need to sensitise Namibians that they should become tourists in their own country.In order to achieve this, operators and product owners should aggressively compile packages that are affordable to Namibians.”There are many Namibians who have not visited out national tourism attractions…These attractions are the top reason for international visitors to our country.By engaging with Namibians we will not only ensure growth in the sector, but we will also be able to fill beds in the low season,” he said.This year’s expo started on Thursday and ended on Saturday and saw many visitors attending to see the variety of products and services exhibited by more than 150 travel and tourism operators and owners.Small and medium entrepreneurs were also part of the tourism fair and managed to show their wares and services to other established businesses and visitors.Even those who cannot afford to exhibit at big international fairs got the opportunity to showcase their products.Speaking to The Namibian on Friday, expo organiser Glenda Manthe-Grobler confirmed that the expo had started on a good note with more than 6 000 people going through the gates at the opening on Thursday.She emphasised, however, that it was not about the quantity of visitors but the quality of those that attended.Visitors were awed by the products and food on display, while performances by cultural groups and the Chefs-in-Action Theatre also proved to be big hits.Last year, 9 000 people visited the Namibia Tourism Expo.He expressed dismay at the fact that most locals did not appreciate what the country had to offer and failed to see the important role the local tourism sector had in their lives.He said visiting the annual tourism expo should not be only for decision makers and other high flyers, but that all Namibians should participate in it and come out of it with enough information to plan visits to places around the country.One of the objectives of the travel and tourism expo is to create local awareness about the vitality of the tourism sector.The other is to showcase Namibia to the rest of the world as a tourist destination.The tourism industry is an important sector and a driver of the local economy, as it is one of Namibia’s top foreign currency earners and a contributor to alleviating unemployment through job creation.According to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), local tourism accounted for around 11 per cent of Namibia’s GDP in 2004.Jooste said it was not only tourists who should do their bit for tourism, but that tour operators should also make their services and products less expensive.He also called on the few major local tour operators to actively participate in this annual event.”We need to sensitise Namibians that they should become tourists in their own country.In order to achieve this, operators and product owners should aggressively compile packages that are affordable to Namibians.”There are many Namibians who have not visited out national tourism attractions…These attractions are the top reason for international visitors to our country.By engaging with Namibians we will not only ensure growth in the sector, but we will also be able to fill beds in the low season,” he said.This year’s expo started on Thursday and ended on Saturday and saw many visitors attending to see the variety of products and services exhibited by more than 150 travel and tourism operators and owners.Small and medium entrepreneurs were also part of the tourism fair and managed to show their wares and services to other established businesses and visitors.Even those who cannot afford to exhibit at big international fairs got the opportunity to showcase their products.Speaking to The Namibian on Friday, expo organiser Glenda Manthe-Grobler confirmed that the expo had started on a good note with more than 6 000 people going through the gates at the opening on Thursday.She emphasised, however, that it was not about the quantity of visitors but the quality of those that attended.Visitors were awed by the products and food on display, while performances by cultural groups and the Chefs-in-Action Theatre also proved to be big hits.Last year, 9 000 people visited the Namibia Tourism Expo.