Chamwe Kaira
The tourism industry has rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, with the national occupancy rate rising to 67.55% in August, up from 59.61% in July.
This was a 4.5 percentage point increase from 63.02% in August 2024 and marked the highest monthly rate since the pre-Covid peak of 69.9%.
“This robust performance underscores the resilience of the tourism sector and signals a full recovery of seasonal demand. With September historically being the busiest month of the year, it is anticipated that the upcoming figures will surpass pre-pandemic levels,” said Macro Pulse, an analyst at Simonis Storm Securities.
On a year-to-date basis, occupancy averaged 50.07%, slightly above the 2019 average of 48.93% by 2.1 percentage points.
Pulse said the steady recovery supports second- and third-quarter GDP, with higher arrivals boosting spending across accommodation, tours, and linked industries.
The northern region recorded the strongest performance, reaching 70.63% in August compared to 60.39% in July, its first time above 70% since October 2024.
The southern area followed at 67.45%, up 7.2 points, while the coastal region registered 67.0% and the central area 61.9%.
Pulse said the north has now surpassed its pre-pandemic average, with a year-to-date rate of 50.17% compared to 48.53% in 2019.
Other regions also remain above pre-pandemic levels, except the central area, which continues to lag.
“The northern region’s strong performance was driven by a combination of government events, such as Heroes Day celebrations in Katima Mulilo, and private events, including the Ongwediva Trade Fair. Additionally, a public holiday in August provided an opportunity for many travellers to extend their weekends, which prompted family visits and leisure trips in the northern region. International arrivals also played a role, with tourists flocking to attractions such as Etosha National Park, the Okavango River, and areas of the Kunene region, aligning with August’s peak in global tourist inflows to Namibia,” Pulse said.
The coastal area also benefited, with locals using the holiday for short breaks and international visitors drawn to the Namib Desert and coastal attractions.
“Business-related travel also strengthened in the region, supported by developments in oil and gas projects in Walvis Bay and Arandis, alongside increased activity from Namport’s expansion projects, which are attracting corporate travel,” Pulse said.
In the south, leisure tourism remained dominant, anchored by Sossusvlei, while Lüderitz grew as a business hub due to rising economic activity.
Visitor data showed leisure travel made up 98.48% of arrivals in August, with all regions recording over 90%.
Business travel accounted for 1.35%, concentrated at the coast, while conference travel was minimal at 0.16%.
Pulse said business and conference travel is expected to expand in the coming months, supported by foreign investor activity in green hydrogen projects, the Hyphen development in the south, and ongoing exploration in oil, gas, copper, gold, and rare earth minerals.
Compared to 2019, arrivals from Italy, France, and German-speaking countries increased significantly.
Visitors from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland made up 35.25% of arrivals in August, though down from 40.47% in March.
The Italian travellers surged to second place with 14.31%, boosted by the weaker Namibian dollar. French arrivals rose to 10.21%, while Spain and Portugal increased to 3.26%.
“Limited direct air access to Namibia continues to drive up fares, constraining affordability from long-haul markets,” Pulse said of the challenges in the sector.
He added that visa-related issues have emerged, with congestion and delays at entry points during shared arrivals with multiple airlines due to limited staffing.
Caption
The tourism industry’s peak season has seen a major spike in tourists coming to Namibia.
- Photo: Gondwana Collection
