The Erongo Tourism Forum was launched in Swakopmund on Wednesday.
The 15-member forum, representing key stakeholders in tourism, will include representatives from the tour and hospitality operators, regional and local authorities, police, home affairs and immigration, environment and tourism, airports and IT specialists. Erongo governor Neville Andre-Itope will serve as the forum’s chairperson.
According to the deputy director or the tourism ministry, Elise Hashikutuva, the main objectives of the forum is to oversee and coordinate regional tourism development, economic growth, and equitable benefit distribution from tourism. She said that some of the key functions of the forum are to act as a platform for information sharing regarding tourism development and growth; identify challenges of tourism development in the region and advise the government and the private sector on possible solutions to address these; develop and grow tourism in the region; and the implementation and monitoring of a strategic action plan for the region.
Andre-Itope said the Covid-19 pandemic has changed the momentum and landscape of tourism, and that the way to navigate this key national economic industry to a better place than before will take the cooperation of all stakeholders. “Tourism is everyone’s business,” he said.
He added that the industry should become flexible in order to continue operating in critical times while maintaining its workforce. According to him, difficult but valuable lessons were learned during the peak of Covid and the subsequent emergency interventions that resulted in putting the tourism and hospitality industry in intensive care.
He said that locals were responsible in keeping many of the hospitality businesses alive during the peak of the pandemic, and therefore more emphasis should be put on the development and promotion of local tourism. “I want to urge residents and citizens in the region and the country to also start visiting local tourist facilities before going outside the country. First know your country and appreciate what you have in your country before going outside. Doing so will also grow the local economy,” encouraged the governor.
Andre emphasised that flexibility is the key in recovering the industry and insuring it stays sustainable – even in critical times, such as pandemics. He said that the pandemic and lockdowns resulted in massive job losses in the hospitality sector, which highlighted the risk and instability of the traditional full-time job model. “The reality is that, with ongoing uncertainty and external disruptions threatening the status quo, flexibility has become critical. Covid was a learning curve to all of us and we should start thinking of flexible ways to operate within any pandemic without disadvantaging the sector, and the employment rate, and not risking people’s lives at the same time.”
According to him, the sector is also decisive in addressing poverty, unemployment, and community empowerment, which is in line with national social-economic objectives. “We must rebuild and look to the future with hope. And not with fear. The tourism sector is incredibly resilient. With cooperation and innovation mixed with unique and spectacular tourism attractions of the Erongo region – which includes eco, wildlife, cultural and adventure tourism – the region could become one of the most competitive tourist destinations in Africa. This should then translate into the benefit for the people of Erongo, including those who live in the region’s communal areas.”
The 15-member forum, representing key stakeholders in tourism, will include representatives from the tour and hospitality operators, regional and local authorities, police, home affairs and immigration, environment and tourism, airports and IT specialists. Erongo governor Neville Andre-Itope will serve as the forum’s chairperson.
According to the deputy director or the tourism ministry, Elise Hashikutuva, the main objectives of the forum is to oversee and coordinate regional tourism development, economic growth, and equitable benefit distribution from tourism. She said that some of the key functions of the forum are to act as a platform for information sharing regarding tourism development and growth; identify challenges of tourism development in the region and advise the government and the private sector on possible solutions to address these; develop and grow tourism in the region; and the implementation and monitoring of a strategic action plan for the region.
Andre-Itope said the Covid-19 pandemic has changed the momentum and landscape of tourism, and that the way to navigate this key national economic industry to a better place than before will take the cooperation of all stakeholders. “Tourism is everyone’s business,” he said.
He added that the industry should become flexible in order to continue operating in critical times while maintaining its workforce. According to him, difficult but valuable lessons were learned during the peak of Covid and the subsequent emergency interventions that resulted in putting the tourism and hospitality industry in intensive care.
He said that locals were responsible in keeping many of the hospitality businesses alive during the peak of the pandemic, and therefore more emphasis should be put on the development and promotion of local tourism. “I want to urge residents and citizens in the region and the country to also start visiting local tourist facilities before going outside the country. First know your country and appreciate what you have in your country before going outside. Doing so will also grow the local economy,” encouraged the governor.
Andre emphasised that flexibility is the key in recovering the industry and insuring it stays sustainable – even in critical times, such as pandemics. He said that the pandemic and lockdowns resulted in massive job losses in the hospitality sector, which highlighted the risk and instability of the traditional full-time job model. “The reality is that, with ongoing uncertainty and external disruptions threatening the status quo, flexibility has become critical. Covid was a learning curve to all of us and we should start thinking of flexible ways to operate within any pandemic without disadvantaging the sector, and the employment rate, and not risking people’s lives at the same time.”
According to him, the sector is also decisive in addressing poverty, unemployment, and community empowerment, which is in line with national social-economic objectives. “We must rebuild and look to the future with hope. And not with fear. The tourism sector is incredibly resilient. With cooperation and innovation mixed with unique and spectacular tourism attractions of the Erongo region – which includes eco, wildlife, cultural and adventure tourism – the region could become one of the most competitive tourist destinations in Africa. This should then translate into the benefit for the people of Erongo, including those who live in the region’s communal areas.”
