HAVING a high-ranking political decision-maker at an event of the magnitude of the recent International Tourism Fair (ITB) held in Berlin, Germany, gratified Namibian exhibitors who attended the event, a New Era correspondent at the event was informed. 

The fair ended two days ago and drew thousands of visitors from EU member countries. “We really appreciate the fact that the Permanent Secretary (Dr Malan Lindeque) took the effort of coming here,” said Ralph Meyer-Rust, owner of Lianshulu Lodge in the Caprivi Region. “Talking to him (Lindeque) on a platform like the ITB is quite something different than doing it back home.” Lindeque, the P.S. in the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, attended the five-day fair, where he rubbed shoulders with key European players in the global tourism industry and where he addressed several hundred people mostly from Europe on the importance of Trans-Frontier Parks.

Visiting trade fairs and seeing how such events work was very important for any decision-maker, Meyer-Rust remarked. “Many politicians don’t know anything about tourism, let alone big trade fairs. It’s only once they get here that they fully start realising the importance of networking.” Most Namibians at the ITB wouldn’t have a problem sharing some of the costs for a dignitary’s trip to Berlin. “We want these people here. And I personally would have appreciated it if someone from the Ministry of Finance had been in Berlin to see for himself how much revenue is generated through tourism worldwide.” The ITB 2005, according to Meyer-Rust, has shown just how important the cooperation between the private sector, the NTB and the national carrier Air Namibia is. 

“I really believe that we will enter a very good relationship where everyone takes responsibility to do his share for the sake of tourism.” He praised the Frankfurt-based staff of the Namibia Tourism Board (NTB) for their organisational work ahead of and during the travel expo. “They really did an awesome job.” Hanno Rumpf, Namibia’s Ambassador to Germany, was very happy with the latest trends in Namibian tourism. However, he was worried by the results which the poor design of the South African stand could ultimately have on tourism in the entire region. “When we speak about regional tourism, it is very important accentuating your product and services. Synergies must be optimised. And I don’t think that the South Africans have done us a big favour there if we take a closer look at their stand.” 

Rumpf welcomed the latest announcement by Air Namibia to offer direct flights between Windhoek and London as from July 1. “This route will really become a big success,” he said, adding that Air Namibia would be much more flexible once the airline had acquired its second MD-11 plane to service the Windhoek-London route. Namibia still has a lot to offer in terms of tourism, Rumpf noted, “and we are far from putting too much pressure on our environment”. Communal tourism, for example, still holds a great potential. However, the diplomat said, it is crucial to closely monitor price structures within the Namibian tourism industry. “Under no circumstances may we get too expensive,” he said. 

This is a remark shared by Maureen Posthuma, the NTB´s Area Manager for Western Europe. “I don’t think that the South African stand drew so little attention just because of its design. I rather believe they are now paying the price for having been too expensive over the past couple of years,” she told New Era. “We should regard this as a warning for our own industry.” The European market should never be taken for granted. “The people that come and visit Namibia may as well go elsewhere instead.” Posthuma said she was extremely happy with the way things went at this year’s tourism fair. “The spirits were incredibly high throughout the five days and our people made good business. At least that is what I’ve been told,” she stated.

Article by Edgar Hälbich, New Era
BERLIN, Germany

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