Irene !hoaës
12 September 2008
Windhoek — "I am sure that if all government work including capital development projects is done at the same speed, we can say with confidence that Vision 2030 will be realised," said the Minister of Environment and Tourism, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, at the opening of Onkoshi Camp in the Etosha National Park recently.
The minister noted that Namibia Wildlife Resorts, through the development of Onkoshi Camp, has once again proven its ability to successfully undertake a significant development project within a defined time period.
The groundbreaking ceremony of the Onkoshi Camp took place barely five months ago.
Nandi-Ndaitwah said the new tourism facilities not only create new jobs, but boost the local and national economy by injecting direct funds through the purchase of goods and services, while tourism creates significant opportunities to benefit local and marginalized communities, through provision of local crafts, agricultural products, and services such as laundry or cultural tourism among others.
The tourism sector has in recent years overtaken the agricultural sector as the second largest GDP contributor after the mining sector in recent years.
This positive development, Nandi-Ndaitwah said, is despite the absence of a specific tourism policy in the country.
Namibia has so far gained an excellent reputation as a special destination.
"Nonetheless, it is considered of essence that there must be a policy framework to guide important decisions regarding this significant economic sector," the minister stated.
She said the policy would safeguard the competitive advantages that make Namibia the attractive tourism destination that it has become.
Nandi-Ndaitwah recently said the tourism policy is at an advanced stage.
The Onkoshi Camp is the first site to be built in the Etosha National Park after independence.
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