Fuel hikes may hit tourism

THE recent steep increases in fuel prices might deter tourists from visiting Namibia and land the country in the expensive holiday destination category, despite more tourists flocking to Namibia last year, an expert has warned.

Releasing the latest tourism figures and statistics in Windhoek yesterday, which showed an increase of some 11,9 per cent for 2005, an official in the Directorate of Tourism Development and Planning, Dr Rukee Tjingaete, said he was disturbed by the recent fuel price increases. “Tourists from overseas plan their travels a long time ahead and book their trips six or even 12 months in advance and budget for that.”If their package tours suddenly become more expensive because of petrol price hikes, this has a negative impact on them and on Namibia,” Tjingaete said.A total of 777 890 tourists flocked to Namibia last year according to World Tourism Organisation (WTO) definitions, compared to 695 221 in 2003 – an increase of 11,9 per cent.No statistics could be gathered for 2004 because of logistical reasons.Tjingaete was quick to point out, however, that a high percentage of mainly Angolans, who by WTO definitions were classified as tourists, were mostly day visitors to Namibia.”Some 200 000 Angolans came to Namibia, but only 15 per cent of them could be classified as true holidaymakers; most came to visit relatives and friends,” Tjingaete explained.He further urged that more resources should be allocated to the Namibia Tourism Board (NTB) for marketing and to Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR) to renovate its tourism resorts.The Etosha National Park and Sossusvlei particularly were most precious assets, he added, noting that they were the places to which tourists flocked most.Tourists from Europe increased by 3,10 per cent and came to 146 362 compared to 141 834 in 2003.German tourists again made up the majority with 61 222 coming to Namibia, some 5,49 per cent more than the 58 036 who visited two years ago.”We recorded an increase of 33 per cent more tourists from the United Kingdom who arrived through the Hosea Kutako International Airport since Air Namibia opened that route [Windhoek-London] in July 2005, which translates into 11 633 more arrivals at that airport last year compared to 8 759 two years ago.”In total, 20 978 British tourists visited Namibia.Some also entered through the new Sesheke Bridge across the Zambezi River near Katima Mulilo, coming from Zambia after visiting the Victoria Falls, the new statistics revealed.There was a 21 per cent decline in the number of tourists from southern European countries like Spain, Italy and Portugal.According to Tangee Kamho, an economist at the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, the statistics for 2005 were the most accurate since Independence.”This is the case because the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration has changed the arrival and departure forms and visitors can now specify the purpose of their visit better.This makes the data collection easier for us,” Kamho said.”Tourists from overseas plan their travels a long time ahead and book their trips six or even 12 months in advance and budget for that.”If their package tours suddenly become more expensive because of petrol price hikes, this has a negative impact on them and on Namibia,” Tjingaete said. A total of 777 890 tourists flocked to Namibia last year according to World Tourism Organisation (WTO) definitions, compared to 695 221 in 2003 – an increase of 11,9 per cent.No statistics could be gathered for 2004 because of logistical reasons.Tjingaete was quick to point out, however, that a high percentage of mainly Angolans, who by WTO definitions were classified as tourists, were mostly day visitors to Namibia.”Some 200 000 Angolans came to Namibia, but only 15 per cent of them could be classified as true holidaymakers; most came to visit relatives and friends,” Tjingaete explained.He further urged that more resources should be allocated to the Namibia Tourism Board (NTB) for marketing and to Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR) to renovate its tourism resorts.The Etosha National Park and Sossusvlei particularly were most precious assets, he added, noting that they were the places to which tourists flocked most. Tourists from Europe increased by 3,10 per cent and came to 146 362 compared to 141 834 in 2003.German tourists again made up the majority with 61 222 coming to Namibia, some 5,49 per cent more than the 58 036 who visited two years ago.”We recorded an increase of 33 per cent more tourists from the United Kingdom who arrived through the Hosea Kutako International Airport since Air Namibia opened that route [Windhoek-London] in July 2005, which translates into 11 633 more arrivals at that airport last year compared to 8 759 two years ago.”In total, 20 978 British tourists visited Namibia.Some also entered through the new Sesheke Bridge across the Zambezi River near Katima Mulilo, coming from Zambia after visiting the Victoria Falls, the new statistics revealed.There was a 21 per cent decline in the number of tourists from southern European countries like Spain, Italy and Portugal.According to Tangee Kamho, an economist at the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, the statistics for 2005 were the most accurate since Independence.”This is the case because the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration has changed the arrival and departure forms and visitors can now specify the purpose of their visit better.This makes the data collection easier for us,” Kamho said.