Tourism is booming in Namibia

Political stability, good infrastructure and a safe traveling destination were cited as some of the main strengths of Namibia which ensure “the stars smiling down on the country’s tourism.”

This was said in a statement by the Managing Director of the Gondwana Group, Mannfred Goldbeck, who said the Group posted a record 78,56 % monthly occupancy rate in August, the best monthly occupancy rate overall since the company’s inception two decades ago.
Goldbeck added the good marketing strategy of the Namibian Tourism Board in Frankfurt, Germany, the weak Rand and the introduction of more airlines operating to Namibia as further factors for its success.
“Tourism is booming”, says Gondwana who also owns The Delight Swakopmund, in a statement earlier this week. The statement is quoted: “Tourism in Namibia is booming. In August the Gondwana Collection experienced their best monthly occupancy since its inception 20 years ago. More and more overseas tourists are travelling to Namibia to enjoy the luxury of space and guaranteed sunshine.
“The bed occupancy for August reached a surprising 78.56%. This is a number we have never reached before,” says the Reservations Manager, Leez Hövelmann. “The numbers have increased with nearly 10% when comparing it to the August statistics of the past five years, and the coming months are looking very promising.”
The Gondwana Collection consists of 14 lodges throughout the country and a hotel in Swakopmund. Over the past month the properties received more guests than expected and surpassed optimistic forecasts. Previous records were smashed with Etosha Safari Camp’s 99% occupancy, followed by Namib Desert Lodge (88%) and the Canyon Lodge and Namushasha River Lodge (each 83%).
“We’ve seen a steady increase in tourist numbers since the beginning of this year”, says the Gondwana Collection’s Financial Director Jaco Visser. “Through the combination of the demand from tourists and tour operators and the effective co-ordination of our reservations system, we managed to achieve such an excellent occupancy. We would like to thank the tour operators who handled their block bookings responsibly.”
Gondwana’s Managing Director Mannfred Goldbeck adds: “Currently the stars are smiling down on tourism. Namibia is considered as a safe travel destination thanks to its political stability and good infrastructure. Then you add the good marketing strategy the Namibia Tourism Board in Frankfurt has in place, the weak Rand, and of course the new airlines that fly to our country.”