With Namibia recording 233 692 tourist arrivals in 2021, an overall increase of 37.81 per cent compared to 2020, the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has launched the ‘Tourism Sector Drive for COVID-19 Vaccination’ campaign, aimed at increasing vaccination coverage within the sector.
Launching the campaign here on Tuesday, line minister Pohamba Shifeta said the drive is aimed at fostering awareness of the importance of vaccination in the tourism fraternity, among employees and tourism businesses in an effort to achieve herd immunity among the targeted population.
It is also hoped that the campaign will create awareness of the positive role vaccination can play in stimulating tourism and travel demand to Namibia.
Shifeta said the travel and tourism sector is one of Namibia’s main Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employment creation contributors and has been hit the hardest by the COVID-19 outbreak since 2020.
“The contribution to the national GDP, poverty alleviation and employment creation has been threatened, therefore all Namibians, in particular those employed in the sector, should understand that vaccination is the most effective weapon in our fight in this pandemic,” he added.
The minister noted that the sector relies on the success of robust COVID-19 public health measures, sectoral health protocols and most importantly, coverage of the vaccinated targeted population.
Shifeta further indicated that the ministry is aligned with the World Health Organisation safer travel protocol to allow for continuous tourism travels, noting that many people and livelihoods depend on the travel and tourism economy, hence there is a need to boost vaccination coverage within the sector.
“The sector received few arrivals and activities declined in 2020. A positive trend in international tourists was observed in 2021, hence the ministry implemented the national tourism recovery plan to strategically approach the recovery process with required policy intervention, programmes and activities aimed to reboot the sector post-COVID-19,” he said.
Speaking at the same event, Namibia Tourism Board Chief Executive Officer Digu //Naobeb said Namibia’s rate of vaccination will play a crucial role in travel recovery and traveller confidence and will position the country as a safe tourism destination.
“It is important to encourage frontline tourism staff to get vaccinated. There is no doubt that having fully vaccinated frontline tourism staff inspires confidence among travellers,” he noted.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency
