Bureaucrats slam permit doors shut on tourists

TOURIST visits to the Namib Naukluft Park were dealt a serious blow last week when the two official information centres at the coast decided to stop selling permits with immediate effect.

With the peak overseas tourist season in full swing, many visitors were left fuming as they could not enter the park over the weekend. Alternatively they had to take a risk of entering without a permit.A fine of N$300 per vehicle is applicable for people caught without permits.In a joint statement, Namib i and Walvis i said their decision was taken after failed negotiations with the local office of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET).A permit is required for entrance into the Namib Naukluft Park to visit popular sites such as the Welwitschia, Blutkopje, Gobabeb and Sandwich Harbour.The two information centres have been selling permits over weekends and on public holidays as an additional service to the public when MET offices are closed.Both centres are non-profitable organisations with the aim of promoting tourism to the region.This service was provided at no extra charge to the public or the Ministry, said Almuth Styles, Executive Officer of Namib i.The two offices started experiencing problems in rendering the service when they were expected to make copies of forms to be filled out with every permit issued, and to buy permits up front.Styles said they had to pay for these additional costs, as well as the overtime for staff members working over weekends, out of their own pockets.Although we repeatedly requested assistance with at least the costs of photocopies and delivery of permits the Ministry refused to assist.She said that since July last year, the two offices had sold permits in excess ofN$350 000 on behalf of the Ministry.MET Chief Control Warden for Erongo, Cletius Maketo, told The Namibian yesterday that his Ministry was working on resolving the issue.Our Permanent Secretary has taken it up with the Federation of Namibian Tourism Associations (Fenata).Maketo said that in the interim the MET offices at Walvis Bay and Swakopmund would be open from 08h00 to 13h00 on Saturdays to sell permits.Tourists will have to plan their trip ahead to ensure they obtain permits on Saturdays, he added.He said MET was hopeful that the problem would be resolved.We would still like Namib i to assist us.MET granted permission to the information centres to sell permits last year when a decision to stop private enterprises selling entry permits caused havoc among tourists arriving at the coast over weekends.Alternatively they had to take a risk of entering without a permit.A fine of N$300 per vehicle is applicable for people caught without permits.In a joint statement, Namib i and Walvis i said their decision was taken after failed negotiations with the local office of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET).A permit is required for entrance into the Namib Naukluft Park to visit popular sites such as the Welwitschia, Blutkopje, Gobabeb and Sandwich Harbour.The two information centres have been selling permits over weekends and on public holidays as an additional service to the public when MET offices are closed.Both centres are non-profitable organisations with the aim of promoting tourism to the region.This service was provided at no extra charge to the public or the Ministry, said Almuth Styles, Executive Officer of Namib i.The two offices started experiencing problems in rendering the service when they were expected to make copies of forms to be filled out with every permit issued, and to buy permits up front.Styles said they had to pay for these additional costs, as well as the overtime for staff members working over weekends, out of their own pockets.Although we repeatedly requested assistance with at least the costs of photocopies and delivery of permits the Ministry refused to assist.She said that since July last year, the two offices had sold permits in excess ofN$350 000 on behalf of the Ministry.MET Chief Control Warden for Erongo, Cletius Maketo, told The Namibian yesterday that his Ministry was working on resolving the issue.Our Permanent Secretary has taken it up with the Federation of Namibian Tourism Associations (Fenata).Maketo said that in the interim the MET offices at Walvis Bay and Swakopmund would be open from 08h00 to 13h00 on Saturdays to sell permits.Tourists will have to plan their trip ahead to ensure they obtain permits on Saturdays, he added.He said MET was hopeful that the problem would be resolved.We would still like Namib i to assist us.MET granted permission to the information centres to sell permits last year when a decision to stop private enterprises selling entry permits caused havoc among tourists arriving at the coast over weekends.