Erasmus Shalihaxwe
Locals make up 12.8% of visitors who booked to stay at Namibia Wildlife Resort (NWR) establishments across the country for the festive season.
This was confirmed by the NWR spokesperson Nelson Ashipala in an interview with the Windhoek Observer on Wednesday.
‘’South Africans and German tourists follow, with South Africans showing particular interest in fishing activities along Namibia’s coastal areas. We are, however, on a trajectory to entice local tourism. It is my hope and hope that we reach that goal,’’ he said.
Ashipala said the company has observed a surge in bookings for December 2024 and January 2025.
He said most of NWR’s popular lodges are fully booked, but many locals are still scrambling for space at the Etosha National Park.
According to him, the great interest in the Popa Falls resort at Divundu in the Kavango East region has been serving as a stopover for locals travelling between Rundu and Victoria Falls.
‘’The coastal side, a site popular for holiday anglers, always shows great capacity. Average occupancy for the year has, however, been satisfactory. This indicates a positive response to NWR’s initiatives promoting domestic tourism,” said Ashipala.
He added that NWR has also been actively refurbishing its facilities to enhance guest experiences.
In 2022, major renovations were initiated across several resorts, focusing on roofing, flooring, and tiling at establishments such as Onkoshi, Sossus Dune Lodge, and Okaukuejo in Etosha National Park.
In the 2023/2024 financial year, the company spent N$27 million on repairs and maintenance, although no new refurbishments were announced this year.
‘’We also had great success with the assistance of the German apprentices. They really assisted with the cause and we hope to continue with the trend in the year. NWR has continued its efforts to maintain and upgrade its resorts,” Ashipala said.
This year the NWR has also introduced initiatives aimed at improving client experiences and supporting community development.
These include partnerships such as the NWR Marathon and the continuation of its school garden projects across the country.
