Aus community takes charge of tourism project

THE Aus community has taken full ownership of a tourism project previously managed by private partners.

The Aus Tourist Information Centre (ATIC), which was funded by the European Union and is the property of Aus Community Conservation Trust (ACCT), finally belongs to the community after the private partners renegotiated a five-year management contract it had signed with the Trust in 2006. The Trust, which previously owned 25 per cent of the shares, now owns all the shares and runs operations at the centre on behalf of the community. ACCT board director Piet Swiegers, co-owner of Klein Aus Vista which had a 50 per cent stake together with Nature Investments (trading as Gondwana Desert Collection) in the tourism project, told The Namibian that it was agreed at the beginning of August to give the community full ownership of the centre on condition that they settle in full a loan of N$70 000 and compensate for the stock at the centre. ‘We’re now negotiating how the transition phase would take place,’ said Swiegers.Another community member, Claudia Baisitse, who previously managed the centre, owned the other 25 per cent of the shares.Swiegers said the dilly-dallying of the Ministry of Environment in granting a 20-year concession that would have allowed the Trust to take tourists on excursions to the popular Khoichab dune belt partly led to the private shareholders’ decision to pull out from the management deal.’Honestly, the ATIC is not that much profitable. The concession could have make it more sustainable,’ said Swiegers.The Environment Ministry granted the concession to the Trust as soon as the community had taken full ownership of the centre, according to Swiegers. The centre, which opened its doors in 2006, includes a café and a souvenir shop. luqman@namibian.com.na