Justicia Shipena
The Namibia Tourism Board (NTB) will pay the Namibia Airports Company (NAC) just over N$7,000 a year for hosting its information desk at the Hosea Kutako International Airport.
NTB confirmed to the Windhoek Observer that the board will pay a monthly fee of N$660 to the NAC.
“As outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NTB and NAC, the NTB will indeed be required to pay a monthly fee of N$660.00 to NAC,” said Flora Quest, NTB’s corporate communication practitioner.
She said the fee has been factored into NTB’s approved budget.
“It’s a cost that has been carefully incorporated into our approved budget, reflecting our strong commitment to sustainable and responsible operations.”
NTB officially launched the new information desk in March.
The board says the goal is to improve the travel experience for visitors arriving in Namibia.
Quest said this is the first time NTB has set up an information booth at the airport. She called it a strategic move to serve both international visitors and local Namibians.
Through a survey platform at the booth, NTB has engaged with over 116 tourists since mid-January.
“To gain a comprehensive understanding, we have implemented a survey at the location to gather insights from travellers and to inform strategic initiatives that cater to their needs, Quest said.
She said early results from the information desk have been positive and that there has been a steady rise in visitors using the booth.
“With the ongoing support and investment, NTB is confident that this venture will continue to enhance the country’s tourism profile, foster greater engagement with visitors, and contribute to the country’s economic growth. We remain committed to ensuring the success of this project and to delivering meaningful benefits for both Namibia and its international guests,” she added.
The initiative comes at a time when NTB has faced financial struggles.
In 2021, the board announced that it only had funding for operations and salaries until November that year.
A month later, it received a bailout of N$8 million from the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism.
Cabinet had to step in to address the board’s financial crisis. Before the pandemic, NTB’s annual income from levies ranged between N$45 million and N$55 million.
Former NTB CEO Digu Naobeb stated that a similar initiative occurred between 2005 and 2007, but it failed because of limited funding and various other challenges.
“We had that desk at the airport during my time at the NTB. But we faced several challenges, especially with collateral materials like maps. We had budget constraints and couldn’t print enough,” he said.
He said staffing the booth also became a problem.
“There were problems with staffing the centre during weekends and holidays. People would rather not work those hours, and it ended up costing NTB a lot in overtime,” he said.
He added that tourist use of the desk was low, as most had already made travel plans before arriving.
“The uptake wasn’t that much. Most people already had their tours arranged, and only a few actually used the services,” Naobeb said.
He believes the new desk should focus on digital platforms rather than printed brochures.
“Before I left NTB, we revamped the website to provide more information. If today’s efforts are linked to a digital platform at the airport, maybe it will work. But if it’s still based on traditional brochures, it may not be sustainable. Tourists don’t want to carry extra paper; it becomes part of their baggage.”
The Hospitality Association of Namibia’s (HAN) CEO, Gitta Paetzold, said the launch of the office is a welcome step.
“We’ve worked together with groups including the police protection unit and tourism police to make this a go-to place for tourists,” she said.
She added that while HAN does not have much information to display, they work with NTB to ensure the stand has the right material.
“But we work with NTB to ensure whoever mans the stand is equipped to share relevant information with guests about where to go and what to be aware of,” Paetzold said.
She said HAN also helped develop a safety tips brochure with NTB and the City of Windhoek, which is now available at the booth.
“It always depends on capacity, but I do think the NTB is now committed. They have put funds together and are working with other partners to ensure that this time, it remains open for longer,” she said.
She also pointed to NTB’s work with the Ministry of Home Affairs on a “welcome host” training program.
The aim is to improve service from immigration, customs, and police officers at the airport.
“This time, it’s a more permanent endeavour, and the commitment is much stronger than before,” said Paetzold.
