By Surihe Gaomas
SENDELINGSDRIFT
With the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa and the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola during the same year, the recent opening of the Sendelingsdrift port of entry between Namibia and South Africa at the Orange River aims to significantly enhance tourism not only between those two countries, but the region as a whole.
Officially opening the port of entry early this week, Minister of Environment and Tourism Willem Konjore said regional tourism planning is the best way for the region to increase its growing tourism numbers for these two global events.
“The region is attracting growing numbers of tourists ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which will provide even more opportunities for tourism. This will ensure increased income and job opportunities for both countries, thus contributing directly to socio-economic growth and poverty reduction in line with our development goals,” said Konjore.
With the latest tourism access link, tourists and visitors will be able to view attractive sites in Namibia, such as the world’s second largest canyon the Fish River Canyon in the Karas Region, the Sossusvlei Dunes, the world’s oldest desert the Namib, the Ai-Ais Hot Springs and one of the oldest parks, namely Etosha Park.
The Sendelingsdrift port of entry is situated 85 km east of Alexander Bay and 22 km south of Rosh Pinah in the Ai-Ais/Richetersveld Transfrontier Park.
Both the Ai-Ais and Richtersveld national parks follow a joint vision for the Transfrontier Park that was formulated during joint working sessions held in June 2002.
At the same occasion his counterpart, South African Minister of Environmental Affairs Rejoice Mabudafhasi said that the aim for South Africa in light of the Soccer World Cup is not only to market the region as a whole, but to have 10 million visitors or more by 2010.
“Let’s make the SADC region the first choice for tourists, let us market the region,” said Mabudafhasi, adding that the community must guard the latest port of entry jealously in order to reap the benefits at the end of the day.
“It is yours, not governments’, so take care of it, the parks belong to us,” she added.
South Africa has also allocated N$11 million for the further improvement of facilities on their side of the Orange River.