‘Expand revenue generating base’

MORE can be done in the marketing and promotion of tourism, as this sector can become a serious competitor to mining in generating revenue for Namibia.

These were the words of De Beers Managing Director Gareth Penny when he addressed the Namibian delegation that visited London last week at a gala dinner hosted for President Hifikepunye Pohamba. Penny said Namibia was an attractive investment destination that needed to put on the global map.”In my opinion, the tourism sector in Namibia is quite substantially under its potential.Namibia has breathtaking tourist attraction areas.I have been promoting Namibia as a tourist destination to everyone I meet ..,” he said.The Namibia Tourism Board has been established to promote the country as a tourist attraction, and according to the latest World Tourism and Travel Council Report, tourism’s contributed 3,7 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product in 2006.Penny said it was disheartening to see constant international news coverage of wars, famine and poverty from Africa, yet there were other positive stories, like Namibia, for the world to revel in.The De Beers MD said his company was proud to do business in Namibia and would assist the country in achieving its Vision 2030 objective.The Government and De Beers are in a 50-50 partnership in Namdeb, which is the world’s leading alluvial diamond-mining company.Diamond revenue in Namibia accounts for 10 per cent of GDP and 35 to 40 per cent of foreign earnings.Penny said Namibia was an attractive investment destination that needed to put on the global map.”In my opinion, the tourism sector in Namibia is quite substantially under its potential.Namibia has breathtaking tourist attraction areas.I have been promoting Namibia as a tourist destination to everyone I meet ..,” he said.The Namibia Tourism Board has been established to promote the country as a tourist attraction, and according to the latest World Tourism and Travel Council Report, tourism’s contributed 3,7 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product in 2006.Penny said it was disheartening to see constant international news coverage of wars, famine and poverty from Africa, yet there were other positive stories, like Namibia, for the world to revel in.The De Beers MD said his company was proud to do business in Namibia and would assist the country in achieving its Vision 2030 objective.The Government and De Beers are in a 50-50 partnership in Namdeb, which is the world’s leading alluvial diamond-mining company.Diamond revenue in Namibia accounts for 10 per cent of GDP and 35 to 40 per cent of foreign earnings.