The ability of the national economy to benefit from tourism depends on the availability of investments to develop the necessary infrastructure, which could lead to a constant inflow of tourists.

This was according to Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Pohamba Shifeta at the opening of the seventh annual general meeting of the Public Enterprises Chief Executive Officers’ (CEOs) Forum and sports games in Oranjemund on Thursday.

According to Shifeta, this is true for any place in Namibia, but for Oranjemund in particular.

“What I wish to emphasise is that our towns should strive to do everything possible to provide high-quality visitor experiences that are welcoming and engaging, and to raise awareness of the natural and cultural values found inside or around our towns,” he said.

The event, which is held under the theme ‘Reimaging Public Enterprises as a Catalyst for Innovation’, is one of several initiatives undertaken by the CEOs’ Forum which are designed to take Namibia on the right path through collaborative efforts to support Namibia’s development agenda.

“The theme appears to be aligned with the national theme that President Hage Geingob has set for Government in 2022. Indeed, public enterprises are catalysts for economic development and should continue to innovate around a number of challenges our country faces,” Shifeta noted.

The forum also aims to create a networking platform for public enterprises in order to have a collective voice in liaison with other public enterprises and the government.

It further creates an opportunity for public enterprises to give their input on legislation, policies and other directives by Government.

Shifeta stated that it is pleasing to note that the forum facilitates benchmarking of best practices and promotes skills transfer.

According to the minister, new economic realities point out that towns and regional economies may no longer function as they once did. He said towns and regions that will thrive will be those that will be differentiated by their lively neighbourhoods and business districts, among others.

“In my view, changing the economic circumstances of our towns require effective strategic planning by local, regional and national authorities working in partnership with the private sector including public enterprises,” Shifeta said.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency