Namibia has earned N$171 million in visa revenue between April and June this year, following the introduction of the Visa on Arrival system aimed at boosting tourism.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah announced the figures during the launch of the 6th National Development Plan (NDP6) at the University of Namibia, revealing that 115,857 visas were issued during the three-month period.
“The Government implemented the Visa on Arrival system on 1 April 2025. I am proud to share that, as of 30 June 2025, visas totalling 115,857 have been issued, generating 171 million Namibian Dollars in revenue for the State,” she said.
Tourism has been prioritised as a key economic enabler under NDP6, with the state working towards finalising a National Tourism Spatial Master Plan by September 2025.
The plan is designed to promote socioeconomic inclusion and distribute tourism more evenly across the country.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security, all revenue collected through the visa system, which was introduced on 3 March 2025, is paid directly into the State Revenue Fund to support development initiatives.
The sector is also undergoing broader reform through the National Spatial Development Master Plan, led by the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT), which targets an increase in direct tourism jobs from 57,000 to 80,000 by 2030.
MEFT Executive Director Sikongo Haihambo said the plan would ease the burden on popular sites like Etosha National Park and Sossusvlei by expanding tourism activity across all 14 regions.
“The tourism sector employs about 57,000. That’s now direct jobs. We’re looking at around 2030 to have grown this number to 80,000. So therefore the spatial development plan is going to assist us in the realisation of that aspiration,” Haihambo said.
The plan will also map undeveloped and underutilised areas with tourism potential and introduce investment opportunities through targeted zoning.
