Windhoek: The Global Namibia One Initiative (GNI) familiarisation tour, spearheaded by Miss Earth Namibia 2025 Selma Kamanya, officially commenced on Monday with the arrival of 19 Miss Earth titleholders from around the world. Hosted in partnership with the Namibia Tourism Board (NTB), the initiative aims to position Namibia as a premier tourism and cultural destination.
According to Namibia Press Agency, NTB's Head of Marketing, Charmaine Matheus, emphasized that the tour, the first of its kind, seeks to showcase Namibia's hospitality, cultural heritage, and culinary diversity, which she described as central to the country's tourism identity. Matheus mentioned that the initiative aligns with NTB's market-specific tourism strategy, targeting countries like India, Japan, Indonesia, Germany, and the United States of America, where the organisation has conducted promotional activities. She added that the tour also aims to strengthen intra-African tourism and encourage collaborative storytelling among the participants.
During their stay, the delegates will visit key sites, including the Fish River Canyon, Etosha National Park, Swakopmund, and Sandwich Harbour, as well as communities in northern Namibia. Matheus highlighted these locations for their landscape diversity, conservation leadership, and cultural richness. She pointed out that over 45 per cent of Namibia's land is under conservation, making it the first country to include environmental protection in its constitution, which is a significant part of their story that they want visitors to understand.
Miss Earth Namibia 2025, Selma Kamanya, remarked that the GNI was conceived after she participated in an international pageant earlier this year, where she recognized pageantry's potential for sustainable development and cultural exchange. She emphasized that being a national ambassador carries responsibility, stating that they are more than models; they are representatives of their countries with platforms that can influence positive change. Kamanya also stressed the economic importance of the tourism sector, noting that it creates significant employment opportunities. She encouraged the participants to fully immerse themselves in Namibia's landscapes and communities and to share their experiences widely.