Otjozondjupa Governor, James Uerikua and Deputy Executive Director in the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Seimy Shidute on Thursday jointly launched the newly established tourism forum for the Otjozondjupa Region.
The forum is tasked with overseeing and coordinating tourism and hospitality activities and reviving the economic growth and development of the sector in the region.
In her remarks, Shidute said all members of the forum are active players in the tourism and hospitality industry.
Seventeen representatives from private tourism and hospitality businesses as well as from government ministries, were served with their letters of appointment and terms of reference documents.
Governor Uerikua was elected chairperson, to be deputised by the Chief Regional Officer, Agatha Mweti.
All local authority councils, some lodges, recreational facilities, the regional department of tourism in the Namibian Police Force, the Otjozondjupa Regional Council and the culture unit in the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture also form part of the forum, to serve for a period of three years.
Uerikua on his part promised to conduct extensive research on unique historical and cultural attractions that will be captured on the tourism forum database to be marketed globally in order to attract tourists.
“We also need to strongly promote our lion present in the conservancies of Tsumkwe and our local crocodile farm we have inland right here at Otjiwarongo. The stories of the buffaloes at the Waterberg Plateau Park which do not carry foot and mouth disease need to be promoted and told to the world,” said Uerikua.
He also wants to see the upgrading of the Otjiwarongo airstrip so that tourists intending to travel to Etosha National Park can use it for landing and drive there directly from Otjiwarongo.
Uerikua concluded by calling on the local authority councils in the region to venture into establishing a conference centre that can accommodate a variety of indoor activities related to tourism.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency
