Andrew Kathindi
The government is yet to pronounce itself on the protocols for the tourism revival initiative, a day before the sector is supposed to open up.
Last month, as part of measures to migrate to Stage 4 of the state of emergency and save the tourism sector, President Hage Geingob announced that Government in collaboration with the Tourism and Hospitality sector will conduct a targeted International Tourism revival initiative between 15 July to 15 August 2020.
However, nearly a month on, and following detailed consultations with the industry, the government has yet to give the green light to open up the industry.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Namibia Tourism Board (NTB), Digu //Naobeb said they are yet to receive word back from government on the proposals they submitted following consultations, even though the industry is ready to receive tourists.
//Naobeb noted that he had advised the tourism sector not to make any bookings until the government has pronounced itself.
This comes as the sector’s normal peak tourism season which can generally begin in June and end in October has been a write-off in terms of room occupancies, bookings and income generation. There are different ‘high seasons’ for different areas, like at the Coast and for accommodation facilities in National Parks and conservancies in prime locations. Prior to the pandemic, the industry received an off-peak lucrative spike in guests at holiday periods (Christmas, Easter) and school break times in South Africa.
The travel, hospitality and tourism sector has been one of industries hardest hit by the pandemic. The German-speaking Europe market was identified by some in the sector as the priority market as it provides the highest volume of overseas visitors to Namibia. Others in the sector, not servicing the German-speaking overseas market, identified other areas such as the Italian, UK, South African or French markets.
“It’s not that they are delaying us. In all these decisions government has to look into a lot of things besides tourists, including balancing the health of citizens and opening up of the economy. Besides that, bilateral agreements need to happen between our government and that of Germany. There are certain things that we can advise but there are other factors that government has to look at from a bilateral and political level,” //Naobeb told Windhoek Observer.
The NTB chief also noted severe challenges with airlines flying directly into Namibia from tourism source markets.
There are currently only three airlines servicing the overseas source markets: Air Namibia, Condor and Eurowing.
“Air Namibia can only do international flights at the end of August. So Air Namibia is ruled out for the time period the government has identified. What we know about Eurowing, Namibia is not their stop; it is Cape Town, which makes the routing a challenge, unless the volume getting off in Namibia justifies the flight. We haven’t yet had any pronouncement from Condor,” //Naobeb.
He further said that government would also need to clarify its final position on tourist quarantines.
“Within quarantine, there could be different models that can be twisted to suit the country’s situation. It doesn’t necessarily mean people have to be put up into hospitals or remote areas. When government makes the announcement, that also needs to be made clear on what we mean by that,” the NTB CEO said.
This comes after President Geingob stated that tourists will have to be quarantined for 14 days immediately after they arrive in the country and would have to pay for it themselves. To the chagrin of the industry, the president went on to state that he wouldn’t come under those conditions.
“If you are not willing to quarantine for 14 days when you arrive, you should not come. If it was me, I will not come. I was told there are die-hard tourists that are willing to spend the 14 days locked up and enjoy the country after,” Geingob said.
Hospitality Association of Namibia (HAN) Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Gitta Paetzold said there was a very short window to rescue the situation or the tourism sector could meet its end in a few months.
“Last week we said, the 15th is coming very fast. July, August, September, October are the bumper months for many in the sector. In the low season, we just barely cover costs. If we don’t get any kind of worthwhile business, we go into a loss-making season. This could mean that tourism will hope for profitable business again only next year July.”
She said there were other outside concerns that will affect tourism in this situation.
“For example, what happens if a tourist gets COVID-19 or if a region is put on lockdown while the tourist is there?”
Meanwhile, Bernd Schneider, Chairman of the Federation of Namibian Tourism Associations (FENATA) said that every day that passes without clarity in respect to government plans and regulations is a step closer towards the complete collapse of Namibia’s tourism sector.
“Namibia will have to urgently agree upon a way on how tourism can start again before it is too late for many entities and individuals within the wider tourism value chain. Time is unfortunately a luxury many livelihoods in tourism no longer have,” Schneider said.
