By: Kelvin Chiringa
The question of how inclusive the local tourism sector has often not been adequately addressed continues to linger and has now been revived by some.
These revivalists have expressed that they feel certain players are exclusionary in their approach and conduct in the tourism business.
This week, just nine days ahead of a much-anticipated tourism conference and gala set to roar to life in the pristine town of Luderitz, the question has surfaced its head again.
Some have criticised the event as having left out so many players that should have been incorporated. The blame has been laid squarely at the back of the Hospitality Association of Namibia (HAN).
Yet the conference itself is said to be open for anyone that wants to come in, according to the HAN Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Gitta Paetzold.
She feels that the criticism that they are deliberately excluding others while also assuming the position of being the voice of tourism in Namibia is coming from a background of ignorance.
Paetzold, a veteran tourism player who often compiles tourism statistical data, has said these criticisms come from people bent on mud-slinging and sabotaging their excellent work.
“They don’t know what HAN has been doing for 25-30 years because they haven’t had the interest, because we support so many companies and partners in tourism. (We have) some partners that we did not think will be logical partners for tourism, and we need to take the hands of the mining industry because tourism is everybody’s business,” she said.
She has also expressed discomfort at giving these voices too much media space, urging that journalists ought to do more research into such claims.
Speaking to The Villager this week, the Namibia Tourism Board (NTB) boss, Digu Naubeb, also watered down the criticism saying anyone was free to have their tourism conference.
He said the HAN event was open to those affiliated with the association, adding that membership was also available for everyone.
By implication, those complaining of being excluded should join HAN and be part of their operations.
“The congress planned in Luderitz is for the Hospitality Association of Namibia, and it is a member-based organisation. So, members who belong to that voluntary organisation and are paid up are invited to attend the HAN congress. It’s not any other congress organised by the government,” he said.
Yet, at the back of this, the Managing Director (MD) of the Namibia Wildlife Resorts, Dr Matthias Ngwangwama, has confirmed that the sector is riddled with fundamentally opposed factions.
In his latest opinion piece, Ngwangwama paints the picture of a sectoral tug of war.
In his analysis, this was pitting what he calls reformist forces of progress that want to push for inclusivity against a band of what he labels Pharisees and old-time tourism players who wish the sector to remain old-fashioned.
Said Ngwangwama, “This group consists of traditionalists who desire to keep the industry “as before”. New entrants are seen as threats, intruders and impostors, not role players. This group of tourism elders is uninterested in reforming the industry or introducing new ways, mindsets or welcoming role players in the industry.
“They are hell-bent on keeping the industry “pure” as before. They firmly believe that local and regional tourism is minuscule and unimportant and that international tourism (implying travellers from the USA and continental Europe) is “where the money come from”.
As we have learnt through Covid-19, this type of thinking can be dangerous and might explode one day as many perceive it as using the attractiveness of Namibia for tourism for selfish purposes. The other world, or grouping, in the Namibian tourism industry comprises those who want to introduce new ways and mindsets, particularly to mitigate and counter the effects of the pandemic. In other words, a group of reformists.”
Paetzold has, however, said that these are Ngwangwama’s opinions to which he is entitled.
She expressed that she is moving away from having to debate what she called non-progressive issues that border on negativity and instead focus on telling positive stories about Namibia.
Therefore, she did not directly engage some of the salient points expressed by her counterpart.
“Dr Mathias is a very learned man, and everybody is entitled to his opinions. We want to move tourism, engage the bigger industry out there, and do it not for ourselves but Namibia,” she said.
The Show Will Go On
In the meantime, the HAN has unperturbedly pushed on with the tourism expo on Tuesday managed to secure N$125 000 funding from Namibia Breweries Ltd.
Standard Bank put in N$40 000 with Bannerman, a company involved in mining, contributing N$75 000 and another company, Marsh, adding some N$15 000.
Only Standard Bank and NBL made public of their financial contributions at a media conference held yesterday.
Fly Namibia is also expected to render flight services at an affordable rate for those travelling to Luderitz with the hope of opening that route.
Said HAN, “We strongly believe that there has never been a better time to do this, as a new offering “post-Covid”, will enhance Namibia’s potential to become a sought-after and prime travel destination post-pandemic, the wide space and isolation and exclusivity of the area a key attraction and requirement going forward.”
The association said they want to discuss “the most sensible and effective ways to unlock the potential of new and carefully designed tourism routes that open new opportunities for our people in the South and see tourism provide opportunities for the region, including Lüderitz, Aus, Rosh Pinah and Oranjemund”.
Multichoice is also chipping in to document that whole affair with the hope of picking from the conference and gala some of the untold beautiful stories about Namibia.
