Travel and tourism to boost economy

NAMIBIA is one of the fastest growing countries in terms of travel and tourism and the sector is expected to generate a total revenue of N$9,1 billion for 2006, a recent report has said.

A research project on the country’s tourism sector forecast that the 10-year tourism growth between 2007 and 2016 would be 6,9 per cent a year. The tourism research, dubbed the National Tourism Satellite Account (TSA) was conducted by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) in conjunction with Oxford Economic Forecasting and was commissioned by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism through the Namibia Tourism Board (NTB).NTB’s Head of Research and Statistics, Sophia Swiegers, said TSA is regarded as a comprehensive measurement of the contribution of travel and tourism to the economy.Tourism’s contribution to the country’s economic growth is expected to be 3,7 per cent of the total Gross Domestic Product, while spending by international visitors is expected to be around N$4,2 billion.The combined direct and indirect impact from the sector to GDP for this year is seen to around 16 per cent.The tourism industry, which has been a major player in the development of the country’s economy, is expected to create 18 800 jobs which is estimated at 4,7 per cent of the total employment this year.However, the researchers said there was still much more that could be done for Namibia to realise its full potential in the tourism industry.The project made a number of recommendations, including the establishment of a tourism advisory council to Government, and also called for the restructuring of Namibia Wildlife Resorts.The country was also urged to cut the red tape regarding environmental planning and management, and at the same time assure enough funding to enable the NTB to carry out its marketing and regulatory roles.The WTTC/OEF team was in Namibia during January and February, and interviewed various key people.”These interviews helped them (researchers) better understand the local and regional political and economic climate as well as local peculiarities and sensitivities,” Swiegers said.The tourism research, dubbed the National Tourism Satellite Account (TSA) was conducted by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) in conjunction with Oxford Economic Forecasting and was commissioned by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism through the Namibia Tourism Board (NTB).NTB’s Head of Research and Statistics, Sophia Swiegers, said TSA is regarded as a comprehensive measurement of the contribution of travel and tourism to the economy.Tourism’s contribution to the country’s economic growth is expected to be 3,7 per cent of the total Gross Domestic Product, while spending by international visitors is expected to be around N$4,2 billion.The combined direct and indirect impact from the sector to GDP for this year is seen to around 16 per cent.The tourism industry, which has been a major player in the development of the country’s economy, is expected to create 18 800 jobs which is estimated at 4,7 per cent of the total employment this year.However, the researchers said there was still much more that could be done for Namibia to realise its full potential in the tourism industry.The project made a number of recommendations, including the establishment of a tourism advisory council to Government, and also called for the restructuring of Namibia Wildlife Resorts.The country was also urged to cut the red tape regarding environmental planning and management, and at the same time assure enough funding to enable the NTB to carry out its marketing and regulatory roles.The WTTC/OEF team was in Namibia during January and February, and interviewed various key people.”These interviews helped them (researchers) better understand the local and regional political and economic climate as well as local peculiarities and sensitivities,” Swiegers said.