Tourism in Namibia

Tourism in Namibia is a big part of the country's economy. It helps bring in a lot of money — about 7.2 billion Namibian dollars, which is the same as about 390 million US dollars, each year. This money is very important for the country.

Every year, more than one million people visit Namibia. Many of these visitors come from nearby countries, like South Africa. Others come from far away, such as Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, and France. Namibia is one of the top places to visit in Africa.

The country is especially famous for its nature and animals. People love to go there to see wildlife in a way that helps protect the environment, called ecotourism. This lets visitors enjoy the beauty of Namibia's extensive wildlife while being careful of nature.

In 2010, a well-known travel guide called Lonely Planet said that Namibia was the fifth best place to visit in the whole world for its great value. This shows just how special and welcoming Namibia is to visitors.

History

The first rough guess about how many visitors came to Namibia was made in 1989. At that time, it was thought that about 100,000 people from other countries stayed in Namibia. Over the years, the number of visitors grew. By 2014, the number had risen to about 1,176,000 people.

Employment

In 1996, about 600 jobs were connected to Namibia's tourism. By 2008, this grew to around 77,000 jobs, which was about 18.2% of all formal jobs in the country. Tourism has also helped protect natural resources and support development in rural areas. Today, there are about 50 communal conservancies in Namibia, covering a large area of land. These help improve land management and provide income for many people living in rural areas.

Rankings and evaluation

Lonely Planet chose Namibia as the fifth best place for travelers who want good value in 2010. In 2020, TravelLemming.com named Namibia the 13th best emerging travel spot in the world. Some of Namibia’s most popular attractions include the Etosha National Park, Fish River Canyon, Sossusvlei, and the Namib-Naukluft National Park.

Tourist destinations

Windhoek

Windhoek is the capital and largest city of Namibia. Most visitors fly into the country through Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport. Popular spots in Windhoek include Tintenpalast, which is where the National Council and National Assembly meet, Windhoek Country Club Resort, Zoo Park, and Hilton Windhoek, the country’s first five-star hotel.

Walvis Bay

Walvis Bay is Namibia’s second-largest town and main port. It has a unique mix of landscapes, with the Namib desert on one side and a large lagoon and harbour on the other. The area is great for water activities like fishing, boating, and kayaking, as well as land adventures such as desert tours and dune driving.

Swakopmund

Swakopmund is a beach town with beautiful German-style buildings. It is famous for its huge sand dunes and exciting sports. Visitors can enjoy camel rides, try skydiving, or explore nearby farms and historic trains.

National Parks

Namibia has many wonderful national parks. The most famous is Etosha National Park. Other parks include Namib-Naukluft, Skeleton Coast National Park, Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park, Waterberg Plateau Park, and several more, each offering unique wildlife and landscapes.

Kaokoveld

Kaokoveld is a remote and beautiful area where desert elephants often visit. Lodges like Puros Lodge and Okahirongo Elephant Lodge provide a special place to stay.

Extreme sports

Namibia’s dry and tough climate makes it a great place for challenging sports, such as desert races and long-distance running events. One famous race takes runners through the Fish River Canyon, the Namib Desert, and along the Skeleton Coast.

The Namibia Tourism Board

The Namibia Tourism Board (NTB) was created by law in 2000. Its main job is to organize the tourism industry and promote Namibia as a place for visitors to enjoy. The NTB is the only group in Namibia with the power to control tourism.

The NTB looks after many parts of the tourism business, including places to stay, tour guides, travel services, and more.

Trade associations

Namibia has several groups that help support its tourism industry. Some of these groups include the Namibia Travel & Tourism Forum, the Federation of Namibia Tourism Associations, the Hospitality Association of Namibia, the Association of Namibian Travel Agents, the Car Rental Association of Namibia, and the Tour and Safari Association of Namibia. These groups work together to make sure tourism in Namibia grows and stays strong.

Statistics

This section shares information from the article on the Visa policy of Namibia.

Most visitors who come to Namibia and stay for at least one night are usually from these countries: