Windhoek
Environment and Tourism Minister Pohamba Shifeta has noted with concern the shortage of accommodation facilities in the country, saying that this state of affairs hinders government’s plans to host big international events.
Shifeta said this on Tuesday when he appeared as the guest of honour at the ground-breaking ceremony of the Hilton Garden Inn Hotel, which is to be constructed by the United Africa Group in Windhoek.
“This development is one of the breakthroughs to create more space and thus help solve the accommodation crisis in the country,” the minister said.
“For instance we have the Kora awards coming up, but yet we have already run out space. We are expecting over 2 000 people,” said Shifeta.
He called for a quick solution to establish as many accommodation and conference facilities and indoor convention centres as possible.
“Otherwise we will keep losing opportunities to market our country as well as boost our tourism industry. Imagine now, when the Kora promos will start, millions of people will be seeing those adverts, so the country will have an advantage in marketing itself,” added Shifeta. Approximately 700 million viewers will be watching Kora – starting with the promos which will begin shortly.
Shifeta is however optimistic that the local hospitality industry will further grow across the board due to international demand.
“Even now when I was out of the country people were already asking about Namibia and the Kora awards, and you can really tell that people at least now know about our country, therefore this will inspire them to one day come to the country as tourists,” said Shifeta.