Brigitte Weidlich
30 October 2008
GOVERNMENT is drafting a policy document that will form the basis for a law to regulate the tourism sector, Environment and Tourism Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said yesterday.
Opening the first national conference on tourism ever organised by the Ministry, Nandi-Ndaitwah said she was aware that the absence of a legal and regulatory framework is a challenge for the tourism industry.
"The finalisation of a tourism policy is thus a high priority for the Ministry and once adopted and operational it will guide us to transform the sector to the benefit of all.
The policy will also serve as a basis for drafting a tourism law," the Minister told the 130 delegates.
She emphasised that newcomers to the industry, especially from previously disadvantaged backgrounds, required support from established companies in the market.
The Ministry will put aside N$106 million over the next few years for that purpose, including tourism development in rural areas.
"We need smart partnerships between Government, the private sector and communities to improve tourism and add emphasis on developing cultural tourism beyond just selling crafts to arts and culture, since we have such a rich cultural diversity."
Nandi-Ndaitwah said in the first seven months of her new portfolio she had noticed that service to tourists could improve in the restaurant and hospitality sector.
"Virtually all our chefs are trained outside Namibia, while many Namibians with a local certification in tourism tell me they do not find jobs and this would call for a market study by the private sector," she urged.
She emphasised that any developments and expansions in tourism required an environmental clearance certificate before any work started.
"Failure to do so, no matter how many millions spent already, that structure will be demolished without compensation - I hope everybody has heard that," she stressed.
The Director of Tourism, Sem Shikongo, told delegates that Namibia's tourism industry contributed N$7 billion to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2007 and that 76 872 people were directly and indirectly employed in the industry.
"Last year we had 928 912 tourism arrivals, up by 9,3 per cent from 2006," Shikongo said.
The conference ends today.
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