Warmbad aims to be tourist Mecca

THE Warmbad settlement in the Karas Region has set its sights on becoming a Mecca for tourists.

Plans to set up a multi-million complex at the Warmbad hot springs are in full swing. Already, the Trust Fund for Regional Development and Equity Provision has allocated N$2,5 million for the envisaged development.The hot springs were discovered by the Bondelswarts of Warmbad more than 200 years ago as they searched for water and grazing to feed the clan’s livestock.In 1985 the peri-urban authority sold them on auction for N$12 000 to South African national, George Swanson, to be developed.Up until then the springs had been community property.After a long battle by the Bondelswarts to regain the hot springs because of the owner’s failure to develop the site, Government intervened and offered George Swanson Entrepreneurs N$60 000 to return the Hot Springs to their rightful owners.At a project meeting at Warmbad last week, the Habitat Research & Development Manager, Andreas Wienecke, gave a brief overview of the Warmbad Community Project to Government officials.He said the first phase involved setting up tourism facilities, marketing and publicity and training the local community in the fields of project management and tour guiding.The second phase would consist of the refurbishment of old buildings dating back to between 1896 and 1908 and their conversion into a community hall, restaurant, motel, service station and an old-age home.Among those present at the project meeting were Minister of Regional Government and Local Housing, Joel Kaapanda; his deputy Professor Gerhard Totemeyer; Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Willem Konjore; the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, Wolfgang Massing; a representatives of the American Embassy, Darrah Jones; and the Managing Director of Namdeb and President of the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industries (NCCI), Inge Zaamwani.Noting that “there is strong backing from people with good will”, Minister Kaapanda urged the local community to take ownership of the implementation of the project.”(The) people of Warmbad must realise the need to be in front in order to play a leading role in the implementation of the envisaged development of the hot springs,” he said.Ambassador Massing said his government would support the envisaged development of the project.He indicated that next year his government’s ‘Restore Cultural Heritage Fund’ would financially assist with the renovation of the old buildings.Massing appealed to the local community not to recall the sad history and sacrifices during German rule but rather “jointly embark on a positive future of the envisaged development of the Hot Springs”.Members of the community, Nacobta, the NDT, the National Housing Enterprise (NHE) and the Karas Regional Council are involved in the project.High-ranking officials present at the project meeting also pledged their financial or other support for plans to transform Warmbad into a vibrant town.Already, the Trust Fund for Regional Development and Equity Provision has allocated N$2,5 million for the envisaged development.The hot springs were discovered by the Bondelswarts of Warmbad more than 200 years ago as they searched for water and grazing to feed the clan’s livestock.In 1985 the peri-urban authority sold them on auction for N$12 000 to South African national, George Swanson, to be developed.Up until then the springs had been community property.After a long battle by the Bondelswarts to regain the hot springs because of the owner’s failure to develop the site, Government intervened and offered George Swanson Entrepreneurs N$60 000 to return the Hot Springs to their rightful owners.At a project meeting at Warmbad last week, the Habitat Research & Development Manager, Andreas Wienecke, gave a brief overview of the Warmbad Community Project to Government officials.He said the first phase involved setting up tourism facilities, marketing and publicity and training the local community in the fields of project management and tour guiding.The second phase would consist of the refurbishment of old buildings dating back to between 1896 and 1908 and their conversion into a community hall, restaurant, motel, service station and an old-age home.Among those present at the project meeting were Minister of Regional Government and Local Housing, Joel Kaapanda; his deputy Professor Gerhard Totemeyer; Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Willem Konjore; the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, Wolfgang Massing; a representatives of the American Embassy, Darrah Jones; and the Managing Director of Namdeb and President of the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industries (NCCI), Inge Zaamwani.Noting that “there is strong backing from people with good will”, Minister Kaapanda urged the local community to take ownership of the implementation of the project.”(The) people of Warmbad must realise the need to be in front in order to play a leading role in the implementation of the envisaged development of the hot springs,” he said.Ambassador Massing said his government would support the envisaged development of the project.He indicated that next year his government’s ‘Restore Cultural Heritage Fund’ would financially assist with the renovation of the old buildings.Massing appealed to the local community not to recall the sad history and sacrifices during German rule but rather “jointly embark on a positive future of the envisaged development of the Hot Springs”.Members of the community, Nacobta, the NDT, the National Housing Enterprise (NHE) and the Karas Regional Council are involved in the project.High-ranking officials present at the project meeting also pledged their financial or other support for plans to transform Warmbad into a vibrant town.