The Hospitality Association of Namibia’s chief executive officer, Gitta Paetzold said despite the negative image of Namibia as a result of its increasing infection rate, the country still has its natural beauty to market and attract the international tourists.Paetzold said the accommodation industry has been open since May 2020 during which it has tested and tried the international health protocols.
However, Paetzold did admit that the curfew and restriction on travel out of Windhoek, Rehoboth and Okahandja are unattractive to the destination market.
Paetzold further said a number of tour operators have indicated that they have tours scheduled for the next three months which might be at risk as a result of the restrictions and seclusion period.
Paetzold said with the renaming of the isolation and quarantine to seclusion phase Namibia has the opportunity to market the open spaces rather than the overcrowded attractions in other countries.
“We (Namibia) have the freedom to roam and not a crowded place,” Paetzold said the marketing of the country should be centred around this.
With South African borders still closed, Paetzold said the international airlines’ services direct routes could pose as an opportunity to boom.
