The Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism Pohamba Shifeta on Monday announced the appointment of a new board of directors for the Namibia Tourism Board (NTB), effective from 01 November 2023 to 31 October 2026.
They are Janette Fourie as chairperson, to be deputised by Olavi Hamwele, with Ally Karaerua, Maggy Mbako, Nguvitjita Zatjirua, Efraim Nkoshi and Rachel Nathaniel-Koch as members.
In his remarks, Shifeta said the appointment of the new board is being made at the most crucial time in the tourism sector when it is in its full recovery mode after the Covid-19 pandemic, and when stakeholders expect much from the NTB in both regulating the industry and marketing and promoting ‘Destination Namibia’.
“Government would like to realise improvements in the areas of the development of new products and route developments across the country to spread tourism’s economic activities to the rest of the country, as well as the development of cultural heritage tourism products and packaged experiences, and popularising the gastronomy experiences of the Namibian cuisine,” he urged.
Shifeta noted that government would likewise want to see an improvement in the marketing of and development of new products and services in the Transfrontier Conservancy Areas (TFCAs), such as Kavango-Zambezi, Ai-Ais Richtersveld, the Iona TFCA area and many other areas where it is feasible to increase the variety and value of tourism experiences in the country.
“To achieve this, there must be a meaningful institutional alignment, cooperation, collaboration and increased synergy between the NTB and the portfolio ministry, other ministries, and Namibian embassies and high commissions abroad, and relevant government agencies,” he noted.
Given the competitiveness of the sector, Namibia – through the NTB as its agency in the promotion of its tourism sector – and in collaboration with other partners and stakeholders should furthermore take up the promotion and marketing of the country at a high level, and reposition Namibia as a destination of first choice for leisure tourism, adventure and business appealingly, he continued.
“The country can only achieve these with a new mindset and innovative thinking. I would like to urge the NTB to adopt a new mindset in conducting its business, especially in its marketing and regulatory functions,” the minister added.
– Nampa