NWR Can Do The Right Thing

THE purpose of this letter is not to add to Mr Aupindi’s woes with regard to the proposed changes and price structure of the new NWR, which he mans on behalf of all of us, as Namibians.

This letter is more a thoughtful one. I might be wrong or not understand his overall turnaround strategy, but afford me the opportunity to state my views.I was just wondering whether there is more to the adamancy of NWR to stick to its guns with regard the changes, irrespective the outcry from the tourism sector as well as the general public out there.I happened to have met an advisor of NWR who is NOT a Namibian.Whom he advises, and on what issues I can’t tell, but on a question whether NWR has made provision for Namibians to visit the parks with their local and sometimes meagre income levels he replied.”If you do not have the money, stay at home”.Was it his idea to do away with self-catering opportunities; a worldwide accepted and proven concept! Is he behind the insurmountable price increases? Is there a deadline from the higher office to recover the monies in a given period of time? I do not know, but something is seriously amiss in NWR advisory council.From a Namibian cultural point of view, with no connotation attached to a tribal or colour-based perspective, ‘n tjop en ‘n dop, kapana, bring en braai or what have you is as part of us as we are Namas, Damaras, Whites, Hereros and Owambos.That is one of the few things that bind us as a people.How can people visit (if they can afford it!) as Namibians and not have a braai? Also the South Africans for that matter.If NWR has become hell-bent on profit making, why not introduce a fresh produce mall, and a properly stocked butchery, do their own de-bushing and sell the wood to the self-catering masses that flock to the park every year? I am not an expert on travel issues, but I am well travelled myself, and have been in tourism for 14 years now, and in my small capacity as an owner of a travel business can tell that Etosha or any national park is not a given.What will happen if the many lodges around the parks are going to establish more campsites and self-catering facilities, add more units with the same level of comfort as NWR, introduce game drives and drop their prices.At the moment an unbelievable number of tour operators are scribbling away day and night to see whether they cannot offer Etosha as a day-visit facility only, making use of the nearby establishments.I shudder to think what will happen if the Erindi National Park idea becomes a reality.By the way, the 25 per cent discount as Namibians: why is that not applicable to Namibian businesses instead of just individuals? Why is there not an incentive for upcoming entrepreneurs, especially from the black communities? (Sorry, I have a problem with the term ‘previously disadvantaged’!) I have gained a lot of respect for Mr Aupindi, and he can do the right thing.It is in his power.Lesley Gariseb WindhoekI might be wrong or not understand his overall turnaround strategy, but afford me the opportunity to state my views.I was just wondering whether there is more to the adamancy of NWR to stick to its guns with regard the changes, irrespective the outcry from the tourism sector as well as the general public out there.I happened to have met an advisor of NWR who is NOT a Namibian.Whom he advises, and on what issues I can’t tell, but on a question whether NWR has made provision for Namibians to visit the parks with their local and sometimes meagre income levels he replied.”If you do not have the money, stay at home”.Was it his idea to do away with self-catering opportunities; a worldwide accepted and proven concept! Is he behind the insurmountable price increases? Is there a deadline from the higher office to recover the monies in a given period of time? I do not know, but something is seriously amiss in NWR advisory council.From a Namibian cultural point of view, with no connotation attached to a tribal or colour-based perspective, ‘n tjop en ‘n dop, kapana, bring en braai or what have you is as part of us as we are Namas, Damaras, Whites, Hereros and Owambos.That is one of the few things that bind us as a people.How can people visit (if they can afford it!) as Namibians and not have a braai? Also the South Africans for that matter.If NWR has become hell-bent on profit making, why not introduce a fresh produce mall, and a properly stocked butchery, do their own de-bushing and sell the wood to the self-catering masses that flock to the park every year? I am not an expert on travel issues, but I am well travelled myself, and have been in tourism for 14 years now, and in my small capacity as an owner of a travel business can tell that Etosha or any national park is not a given.What will happen if the many lodges around the parks are going to establish more campsites and self-catering facilities, add more units with the same level of comfort as NWR, introduce game drives and drop their prices.At the moment an unbelievable number of tour operators are scribbling away day and night to see whether they cannot offer Etosha as a day-visit facility only, making use of the nearby establishments.I shudder to think what will happen if the Erindi National Park idea becomes a reality.By the way, the 25 per cent discount as Namibians: why is that not applicable to Namibian businesses instead of just individuals? Why is there not an incentive for upcoming entrepreneurs, especially from the black communities? (Sorry, I have a problem with the term ‘previously disadvantaged’!) I have gained a lot of respect for Mr Aupindi, and he can do the right thing.It is in his power.Lesley Gariseb Windhoek