Namibia recorded a national hotel occupancy rate of 32.5% in 4Q 2021, nearly doubling the previous quarter’s figure of 17.0%, latest figures show.
According to the Hospitality Association of Namibia (HAN), the Q4 figures from 103 nationwide establishments was also much higher than 19.5% recorded in the same period in 2020.
The month of December recorded a national occupancy rate of 27.8% compared to 35.1% in November 2021 and 28.6% in December 2020.
“During December 2021, 66.3% of the visitors at local establishments were Namibian. Indicating that locals continue to take advantage of specials and discounted packages. Most of the foreign tourists who visited local establishments during December 2021 travelled from South Africa (11.0%), Benelux (1.9%), France (1.8%), other SADC excluding South Africa and Angola (0.96%) and the UK and Ireland (0.85%),” HAN said.
Regarding purpose of travel into Namibia, 91.8% came for leisure, while 4.7% for business and 3.5% for conferences.
The country also recorded a total of 63,555 international passengers who arrived at Hosea Kutako International Airport (HKIA) during 2021, compared to 46,342 in 2020 and 215,155 in 2019 .
December 2021 recorded 4,844 international arrivals, compared to 10,393 in the prior month, down 53.4% month on month and 4,711 a year ago, a 2.8% increase year on year.
On average, HKIA received 5,296 international arrivals per month in 2021, compared to 17,930 per month in 2019 on average, 70% below pre-pandemic levels.
“A meaningful recovery in the tourism sector has yet to materialise as the occupancy rates in 4Q 2021 are about a third of occupancy rates seen in 4Q 2019.We remain positive in seeing double digit growth in the Hotels and restaurants sector (a proxy for the tourism sector) in 2022 as countries across the globe ease on travel and quarantine restrictions. Of course, international travel will be a lot easier for fully vaccinated individuals. One downside risk to our outlook includes certain countries requiring vaccination passports upon entry. Namibia is unlikely to enforce a vaccination passport to foreign travellers, given our low vaccination rates amongst the Namibian population and struggling tourism industry,” Simonis Storm Economist Theo Klein said.
