Local tourism ‘too pricey’ for locals

MANY Namibians feel the prices of local tourism services and accommodation are too high and this prevents people from travelling domestically, a recent study has found.

The study, done for the Namibia Tourism Board (NTB), found that tourism in Namibia was focused primarily on the international market. “This causes prices to increase beyond the affordability of many Namibians, which deters many potential tourists from travelling,” said the report’s finding, released by the NTB’s Acting Chief Executive Officer, Digu //Naobeb, in Windhoek recently.”If the NTB and service providers do not fix this problem throughout Namibia, domestic tourism will diminish,” says the report.However, the study also found that some Namibians do travel domestically and the most popular months are April, May and December.Those who don’t do so now, would like to travel inside the country in future.The majority of the respondents (68 per cent) would prefer to travel in Namibia than outside the country.”Most would like to participate in nature-based tourist activities.The most popular travel destination for Namibians is the coastal town of Swakopmund (30 per cent), followed by the Etosha National Park with 27 per cent, Fish River Canyon with 17 per cent, Sossusvlei came out with 16 per cent while 10 per cent are for other places.”The study was aimed at providing the NTB with information and recommendations to contribute to the improvement of domestic tourism in Namibia.Presently, insufficient information about domestic tourism prevents organisations from improving domestic tourism.Therefore, research such as this was necessary to identify Namibian travellers and assess their financial means and potential contribution to the tourism industry.The study was conducted by Jennifer Moseley, Lindsey Surgis and Melissa Wheeler, sponsored by NTB and the Worcester Institute in the United States.”This causes prices to increase beyond the affordability of many Namibians, which deters many potential tourists from travelling,” said the report’s finding, released by the NTB’s Acting Chief Executive Officer, Digu //Naobeb, in Windhoek recently.”If the NTB and service providers do not fix this problem throughout Namibia, domestic tourism will diminish,” says the report.However, the study also found that some Namibians do travel domestically and the most popular months are April, May and December.Those who don’t do so now, would like to travel inside the country in future.The majority of the respondents (68 per cent) would prefer to travel in Namibia than outside the country.”Most would like to participate in nature-based tourist activities.The most popular travel destination for Namibians is the coastal town of Swakopmund (30 per cent), followed by the Etosha National Park with 27 per cent, Fish River Canyon with 17 per cent, Sossusvlei came out with 16 per cent while 10 per cent are for other places.”The study was aimed at providing the NTB with information and recommendations to contribute to the improvement of domestic tourism in Namibia.Presently, insufficient information about domestic tourism prevents organisations from improving domestic tourism.Therefore, research such as this was necessary to identify Namibian travellers and assess their financial means and potential contribution to the tourism industry.The study was conducted by Jennifer Moseley, Lindsey Surgis and Melissa Wheeler, sponsored by NTB and the Worcester Institute in the United States.