To get the once-thriving tourism sector back on its feet again, the Namibia Tourism Board (NTB) launched the ‘Domestic Tourism Campaign’ at Swakopmund on Friday.

The campaign aims to get locals to visit the country’s various tourist sites.

Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the tourism industry has seen a sharp decline in international tourists visiting.

NTB board chairperson Madelein /Goagoses at the launch said the number of international tourists will decline further as the pandemic continues to result in more lockdowns in various countries.

“Tourists will have doubts about travelling internationally. Hence, promotional activities should concentrate on domestic and regional tourism,” she said.

Launching the strategy, the minister of environment, forestry and tourism, Pohamba Shifeta, said domestic tourism can greatly contribute to the revival of the industry.

“Domestic tourism is being sparked for several reasons. A primary trend is what I deem ‘revenge tourism’, which is caused by frustrations due to lockdowns that limited domestic travel. People want to break free and enjoy themselves,” the minister said.

Another reason, Shifeta said, is the trend of ‘staycations’, which involves that people prefer to travel closer to home.

For the industry to thrive again, the minister called on public-private collaboration to convey the message that the country is open to domestic and foreign tourists.