The Kunene South Crafts Association is hopeful that there will be more tourists arrivals in the region to boost economic activity in terms of tourism.

Its vice-chairperson Valerie Namases in an interview with Nampa this week, said most of the people selling hand-made crafts in the region have already started selling crafts to tourists who have been arriving and visited craft centres.

“Our people are excited that tourists can be seen around in the region. This means craftsmen and women can start making income once again. We are hopeful that before the end of December 2021 more tourists will visit the region and that life will return to normal soon,” she said.

Namases added that selling crafts is the only source of income for most members of the association and seeing tourists arriving in the region means generating income as much as possible depending on the number of tourists that visit craft centres in Kunene south daily.

Willem Nanub, who sells hand-made necklaces and key holders said: “I have sold many of my crafts to international tourists over the past few days. Tourist arrivals at the town of Khorixas is slow but satisfactory. I am hopeful that many will arrive in the coming months, so I can make a decent income to be able to feed my family.”

“I managed to make many crafts during the past months. I am feeling positive that I will get customers as tourists are visible. This means that our industry will recover soonest,” said Rodney Aiseb, a member of the association.

Meanwhile, Environment, Forestry and Tourism Minister, Pohamba Shifeta at the recent launch of the Tourism Revival Initiative Statistics report for September 2020 to March 2021 said: “The domestic market if put at the centre of the recovery of tourism, will help to mitigate the immediate impact of job losses, business closures and will form a foundation for the tourism industry to become more resilient. The government will continue to support the tourism sector in order to boost the economy and save jobs and livelihoods.”

Source: Namibia Press Agency