The Namibia Tourism Board (NTB) and South African Airways (SAA) have joined hands to promote travel within Africa and market the continent as a top global destination. After hosting a high-impact B2B networking session yesterday in Windhoek. 

The event marked the end of a nine-day Familiarisation (FAM) trip. Travel leaders and tour operators from 15 African countries took part in the trip. 

The goal was to turn interest in Namibia into real, ready-to-sell travel packages. Representatives came from countries such as South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Ethiopia, and Rwanda. 

The event created a platform for Namibian tourism operators to meet and connect with major travel players from across Africa. NTB said this partnership will help increase visitor numbers from African countries. 

Head of marketing at the Namibia Tourism Board, Charmaine Matheus, said that firsthand experience is the most powerful tool in a marketer’s arsenal. 

“Many of our partners have been selling Namibia for years without ever having set foot on our soil. We aren’t just neighbours; we are collaborators in one of the most vibrant industries in the world. It is one thing to tell someone about a country, but another to have them experience it themselves. Our goal is to build stronger bridges. Namibia and Africa have incredible stories to tell, but they travel further when we work together,” she said. 

She added that the focus of the discussions was growing Namibia’s Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) sector. Leaders spoke about positioning Namibia as a top destination for business events, conferences, and diplomatic meetings. Participants also discussed the need to improve visa rules across Africa. They said easier visa processes would make travel between African countries simpler and more attractive. 

“The importance of the event was shown by the presence of representatives from the South African High Commission to Namibia. Their attendance showed strong support and cooperation between Namibia and South Africa in growing tourism,” she said. 

-newsroom@nepc.com.na