WINDHOEK – About N$51 million could be injected into the Namibian economy during the forthcoming 10th Adventure Travel World Summit (ATWS) that will be held in Namibia from October 26 to 31.
The Minister of Environment and Tourism, Uahekua Herunga, revealed this through a ministerial statement issued in the National Assembly yesterday. ATWS could bring over 700 members of the world’s adventure travel community to Namibia.
It will be the first time that the event of this nature is held in Africa, which Herunga says is an affirmation of Namibia’s growing recognition as an excellent tourism destination and innovation in the conservation sector.
Herunga said the summit would introduce the range of adventure opportunities in Namibia as well as Namibian conservation story to leaders and big players in the tourism industry.
“The Adventure Travel World Summit delegates will be touring Namibia to gain a deeper understanding of what our country has to offer, and our tourism industry throughout the country is prepared and excited to host these special guests. The delegates will be travelling on over 120 itineraries, visiting 20 conservancies and 18 joint venture lodges,” Herunga revealed.
The minister sees the event as a good opportunity to expose not only Namibia but also the whole African continent as top accredited media including CNN and National Geographic are expected to cover the summit.
The summit will see President Hifikepunye Pohamba receive the Gift to the Earth Award from Chief Ameke Anyakou, an ally of Namibia and Southern Africa. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) awards the gift to presidents and nations in recognition of their conservation successes and empowerment of rural people.
Namibia received the gift 15 years ago, when it was awarded to Founding President Dr Sam Nujoma for the establishment of the first communal conservancies.
Communal game guards in all 79 conservancies will be the recipients of a major equipment donation, worth over N$1 million in recognition of their contributions to conservation.
Herunga however did not mention whether the donation would be done by WWF or other organizations.
Since the announcement that Namibia would host the summit, Team Destination Namibia has received over N$5 million in corporate sponsorship of the summit. Team Destination Namibia is spearheading the organisation of the summit and consists of representatives from the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, the private sector and the general community.
“If we factor in in-kind donations, time spent by the private sector and civil society, I estimate that the total private sector contribution amounts to N$6 million,” Herunga stated.
Leading up to the summit, Namibia is currently organizing events that include city-wide clean up campaigns, a Women in Tourism event, Adventure Connect and a special indigenous tourism workshop for 250 people, who will include representatives from all 79 conservancies and indigenous delegates from Canada, Australia, USA, Sweden and Papua New Guinea.
The events are organized to provide as much inclusiveness to Namibia as possible in the run-up to the summit.
By Tonateni Shidhudhu