Walvis Bay is set to receive five passenger vessels, a development that bodes well for the country’s tourism industry that was badly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in the last two years.
The Namibian Ports Authority (Namport) confirmed that the passenger vessels will arrive and dock in the port town from the 3rd of March to the 24th of May, 2022.
“The presence of tourists from passenger vessels such as the MS Europa 2 and others are a direct positive injection into the tourism industry which will aid our journey of economic recovery as a country,” said Elias Mwenyo, Executive: Commercial Services at Namport.
“Namport remains appreciative that the tourism industry is a key player in Namibia’s economy and continues to be committed to advancing the country’s drive of economic recovery.”
The latest confirmations come as MS Europa 2 passenger vessel is currently docked at the Port of Walvis Bay, having arrived with 498 international visitors on Thursday, including crew-members, and will depart on Friday evening heading to Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
Walvis Bay last received its first passenger vessel in November last year. Most luxury ships were grounded in the first quarter of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic that saw many countries imposing national lockdowns.
In an effort to reduce the risk of new COVID-19 infections, Namport is implementing pre-arrival notifications and documentation on the COVID-19 status of all passengers and crew on board. On arrival, passengers will also be tested for the virus by the Port Health Officials and Medical staff aboard the vessels before being allowed to disembark.
With the ultimate goal of becoming one of the continent’s best seaports by 2026, Namport is banking on public private partnerships to play a crucial role in the rollout of critical infrastructure and facilities in the company’s ports.
