Namibia – the secret is out

GET READY FOR BIGGER THINGS TO COME

In Namibia, tourism goes hand in hand with conservation and sustainable use of resources. Up until recently, the fact that more than 42 % of the country was under some type of conservation management was one of our best kept secrets.

HAN Chairman Christie Benade receives a cheque from NBL MD Wessie van der Westhuizen.

This is no longer the case. Increasingly, the world is realising, and being inspired, by our story – a story in which everyone is a winner, the wildlife, the environment and the communities.

And to top it all, sustainable tourism is the wave of the future, and Namibia has everything this particular tourism market crave.

And, as Namibia prepares to host the 2013 Adventure Travel World Summit (ATWS) in Swakopmund next year, Namibia’s secret is bound to become a well-known fact.

One of the key role-players in the Namibia’s private tourism sector, who gave critical support to government in their quest to attract the attention of the world’s adventure travel community (Adventure Travel Trade Association), was the Hospitality Association of Namibia (HAN).

PRIVATE & PUBLIC PARTNERSHIPS

At a media event today, HAN explained that the month of November is an important time for Namibian tourism affiliates, not just because the organisation is celebrating it’s silver anniversary, but also as this month ushers in the start of the ‘ATTA year’.

One of the association’s most critical annual events is the HAN Tourism Trade Forums (HTTF’s) being held this month. These forums will take place in Windhoek (20th of November at the Safari Court) and in Swakopmund (23 November at the Swakopmund Hotel).

Paul van Schalkwyk.

While these annual forums are important venues for trade partners in the industry to negotiate rates for the upcoming seasons, this year the private and government sectors will get together to officially begin planning for the ATWS next year.

HAN and it’s partners at the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, and the Namibia Travel Board (NTB) will take the opportunity to engage all industry partners in the first offical talks regarding the necessary steps which have to be taken before the summit next year.

MORE ON THE HAN EVENTS CALENDAR

HAN today expressed their thanks to critical partners who have supported HAN financially and otherwise, during the past 25 years. These partners include Namibia Breweries Limited (NBL), Standard Bank and Bannerman Resourses.

Apart from the ATWS preparation talks and the HTTF’s, HAN is also hosting a morning full of coastal adventures at Swakopmund on the morning of the 24th of Namibia. This will give everyone a chance to get a taste of the treats which will be presented to summit delegates next year.

Moreover, the annual HAN Awards gala and 25 year birthday celebrations, is set to take place in the Namibian desert on the evening of the 24th.

Already, bookings are streaming in, so HAN is urging it’s members to book as quickly as possible.

For more information, contact HAN at 061 222 904 or send a mail to gittap@hannamibia.com.