Namibia’s tourism arrivals increased by 98% to 461 027 in 2022 from 232,756 recorded in 2021, as the sector continues to recover.
Tourism was severely affected by the pandemic outbreak as governments across the world imposed travel bans to try to contain the spread of the disease.
“In 2022, 461,027 international tourists arrived in Namibia. This figure indicates a 28.9% recovery level towards the 2019 tourism arrival statistics. However, the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) reported that the global international arrivals increased by 102% in 2022 from 2021 but still remain 37% below 2029 statistics,” Environment, Forestry and Tourism Minister Pohamba Shifeta said while launching the 2022 Tourism Statistics.
He said the statistics were vital to steer planning, improve and further develop the sector, adding that confidence in the regime, marketing and promotion campaigns; and visa services are some of the underlying positive factors leading to the improvements.
In 2019 just before Covid-19 got the world crumbling, tourism arrivals in Namibia were above 1.5 million.
“Now that the sector is gaining momentum, the ministry urges destination managers, tour operators and all stakeholders to develop new products, routes and added destinations to increase the value to visitors thus enhancing their experiences. Equally make Namibia as a destination appealing again,” added Shifeta.
South Africa, Angola, Botswana, Germany, Zambia, France, Switzerland, Italy, the United States of America and the United Kingdom are the top 10 tourist markets.
About 53.1% travelled between September and December, while 36.1% during the months of May and August, whereas 10.8% travelled from January to April.
Of the total, 48.6% travelled to Namibia for holiday purposes, 15.2% for business and 31.4% for visiting friends or relatives.
Meanwhile, the executive director Teofillus Nghitila said the ministry has taken note of tourist concerns relating to poor roads. As a result, he said the ministry is now besieged with maintenance and rehabilitation of the road networks in the various national parks.
“The stretch from Walvis Bay to Sesriem, and we are in contact with the Roads Authority.In recent times we have seen a spike in traffic on our roads as the tourism sector has picked up, recovery from Covid effect, thus requiring maintenance from time to time,” Nghitila said.
In May the ministry revealed a budget provision of N$203 million towards road maintenance in Etosha National Park of which N$136 million was already utilised.
