Namibia recorded a national hotel occupancy rate of 65.5% in October, an uptick from the 54.6% rate recorded in October 2022, latest figures show.
In its latest report, Simonis Storm Securities revealed that in October 2023, the coastal region emerged with the highest occupancy rate, reaching an impressive 71.9%.
The firm’s researcher Halleluya Ndimulunde said the occupancy rate marks a significant milestone, as it is the first time the rate has surpassed 70% since October 2018.
Following closely behind, the northern area maintained a robust rate of 69.2%, having led for two consecutive months.
In comparison, the southern and central areas recorded rates of 62.1% and 60.8%, respectively.
“These statistics vividly highlight the variations in tourism demand across these regions, with the coastal and northern areas standing out as the most favoured destinations among tourists in October 2023,” Ndimulunde said.
According to the Hospitality Association of Namibia (HAN), leisure travel continued to be a significant driver of occupancy rates at accommodation establishments.
“In October 2023, 89.6% of occupancy was attributed to leisure travellers, while business travellers accounted for 9.9% (a slight decrease from the 10.1% reported in September 2023 but a substantial increase compared to the 2.7% rate observed in October 2022). Conference travellers, however, comprised only 0.4% of occupancy in October 2023, down from 1.2% in September 2023,” HAN noted.
Meanwhile, the majority of guests at hospitality establishments nationwide predominantly hail from Europe, with Germany, Switzerland, and Austria collectively constituting the largest share of international tourist arrivals at 42.3%.
Notably, these countries contribute significantly to the diverse visitor landscape. France follows closely behind, accounting for 7.4% of the total international tourist arrivals.
At a regional level, South Africa is noteworthy, representing 4.4% of the aggregate guest composition in hospitality establishments throughout Namibia.
The latest data from the United Nations World Tourism Organisation indicates a robust start to international tourism recovery in 2023.
“During the first quarter, international arrivals reached 80% of pre-pandemic levels, with 235 million tourists, double the number from the same period in 2022. The tourism sector has shown resilience, with 66% of pre-pandemic numbers recovered in 2022,” said Simonis Storm.
Ndimulunde highlighted that the Namibian tourism sector remains a vital contributor to the country’s economy, establishing significant connections with other industries and serving as a crucial driver of job creation.
“Given its reliance on Namibia’s abundant unskilled labour, the tourism sector emerges as a viable solution to address high unemployment rates, particularly in rural areas. Consequently, as the holiday season approaches, we anticipate the tourism industry to continue bolstering local economic activity for the remainder of the year,” she said.
