WINDHOEK – Christo Viljoen, Head of Tourism at FNB Namibia, handed over the 2014 FNB tourist guide of the year award on April 10 to winners Kurt Schlenter (Tourist Guide of the Year 2014) and Emiliano Benolich (Runner up).
The bank supported the awards, which were handed out during the Tourist Guides Association of Namibia’s (TAN) 21st Anniversary, with N$10 000.
“At FNB Namibia, we are well aware of the fact that tourism is one of the strategic pillars of Namibia’s economy and contributes significantly to the State coffers as well as employment creation in our country. We have been called Africa’s best kept secret and if we want to become and remain competitive in the tourism industry, we need to address any challenges and further improve on things we do right already.
“The Namibian tourism industry must keep on developing new products, activities and attractions, while improving on standards and service levels to keep people coming back for more. That is why we, as FNB Namibia support initiatives such as the Tour Guide Association as they look after and reward aspects of the tourism industry, namely the tour guides who can make or break the experience of valued visitors to our country,” said Viljoen.
The Tour Guides Association of Namibia thanked First National Bank of Namibia, Gondwana Collection, all the sponsors and followers for their support. The Tourist Guides’ Association of Namibia (TAN) is a non-profit organisation made up of independent guides, drivers and associated members.