Lüderitz
Lüderitz Town Council and Oranjemund Town Council recently held a stakeholders’ meeting to discuss the possible opening of the Chameis/Rotkop road connecting Lüderitz and Oranjemund to enable tourists to enter the Sperrgebiet National Park.
The meeting was held at a hotel in Lüderitz where all the stakeholders made presentations outlining the impact of roads on tourism and tourism development in the //Karas Region.
The meeting developed a consensus that the opening of the road would boost tourism for the towns of Lüderitz, Oranjemund and the //Karas Region at large.
The first meeting was held at Lüderitz on July 29, 2013, where the Ministry of Environment and Tourism spoke about the latest developments regarding the Sperrgebiet National Park.
The Park was proclaimed in 2008 and a Park Advisory Committee was also instituted.
It is understood that while the Diamond Act is not amended, permits would still be required. Therefore, the Ministry of Mines and Energy and the Ministry of Environment and Tourism were given the responsibility to come together to address some of the key issues before entering consultations with Namdeb Diamond Corporation.
Lüderitz Mayor Hilaria Mukapuli said opening up the Chameis road for use by tourists, businesspeople and other users is vitally important, not only to Lüderitz or Oranjemund, but also to other towns, such as Aus, Rosh Pinah, Walvis Bay, Maltahohe, Mariental and Windhoek.
The Chameis road reduces the travelling distance between Lüderitz and Oranjemund and also between Oranjemund and Walvis Bay.
“It is important to note that we do not just want to offer shorter travel distances between towns, but also safer roads and stunning scenery along the road. We want all travellers, be it domestic or international, business or leisure, to enjoy the beauty and contrast of our land,” Mukapuli stated.
She said there is so much untapped tourism potential along the Chameis road that has not been fully explored, because of the restrictions currently in place. The natural beauty of the scenes that nature offers are hidden from Namibians and tourists, she noted.