Windhoek: The Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism has outlined ambitious objectives for its tourism and gaming sectors, targeting 1.8 million foreign visitors annually and increasing tourism's contribution to the national economy within four years. The revenue target for the industry is set at N$18.5 billion in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2030.According to Namibia Press Agency, during the National Council stakeholder engagement with OMAs this week, the ministry's executive director, Sikongo Haihambo, presented the roadmap for the current financial year, emphasising a strategic plan aimed at creating an integrated, inclusive, and competitive tourism industry. Project metrics indicate that the sector plans to raise its total GDP contribution from 1.6% in 2024 to 5% by the end of 2030, while also doubling revenues from the domestic gaming industry.Sikongo Haihambo stated that by 2030, Namibia aims to have an integrated, inclusive, and comprehensive tourism industry, with tourist arrivals incre asing from 863,872 to 1.8 million. Also, the tourism sector's GDP contribution is expected to rise from N$14.3 billion to N$18.5 billion. He noted a target to boost gaming industry revenue from N$32 million to N$76.5 million.The ministry further announced the desired outcome indicators, baselines, and targets for the sector, prioritising employment and economic growth. Haihambo revealed that tourism-related employment is expected to rise from 57,571 jobs (2022 baseline) to 80,000 direct and indirect jobs by 2030, increasing the sector's share of national employment from 5.4% to 10% within four years.Community-based natural resource management will experience moderate growth, with registered community conservancies increasing from 86 to 90 nationwide. Currently, the MEFT manages 86 conservancies, covering 19.6% of the country's land. Regarding biodiversity ecosystem management, Haihambo indicated that by 2030, state-protected and other conservation areas will be effectively managed for sustained biodiversi ty and socio-economic development, with the number of approved park management plans increasing from 13 to 19.Haihambo also noted that by 2030, the forestry sector's contribution to the economy will rise from N$1.5 billion to N$2.5 billion. The ministry aims to reduce human-wildlife conflict cases to 1,690 by 2030, down from the current 3,380.Additionally, the ministry has set key performance targets through 2030, emphasising conservation and land restoration. Under the State Protected Areas initiative, the government plans to increase the number of efficiently managed protected areas from 13 in 2024 to 19 by 2030. Management strategies will include implementing seven strict measures annually to control human-wildlife conflict (HWC), aiming to reduce annual incidents involving major wildlife from 1,383 to 880 over the next four years. Furthermore, to address bush encroachment, the ministry plans a significant expansion of rangeland restoration, targeting an increase in restored land from 30,000 hectares i n 2024 to 300,000 hectares by 2030, supported by the completion of a National Forest Inventory by September 2028.