Dalene Kooper
The Namibia Tourism Board (NTB) has refuted claims to regulate accommodation pricing in the tourism industry.
The board issued a press release reaffirming their role in the tourism industry.
NTB spokesperson, Flora Quest, said the board is committed to fulfilling its mandate of promoting and marketing Namibia as a preferred tourism destination, supporting tourism standards and regulatory compliance, and facilitating constructive engagement within the tourism sector.
“The board notes recent public discussions relating to accommodation pricing within the tourism industry and wishes to reiterate that NTB does not regulate accommodation pricing, nor does it have the legislative mandate to enforce price controls within the tourism sector,” the release read.
The board was responding to reports that it seeks to regulate accommodation pricing within the tourism industry, claims it now vehemently denies.
The board reiterated that Namibia operates within a free-market economy, where pricing structures are determined by individual businesses based on market conditions, operational costs, demand, and related commercial considerations.
NTB expressed that they highly value private sector partners, accommodation establishments, and regulated businesses and recognise their efforts toward making domestic travel accessible.
“We commend the many who proactively offer special Namibian rates, festive season packages, and low-season discounts to domestic travellers. Our mandate regarding the Star Grading System is strictly focused on quality assurance, benchmarking, and maintaining world-class standards to help Namibian tourism services and products position themselves competitively globally,” Quest said.