Swakopmund, Namibia 28 August 2023 – Namibia's tourism sector is poised for a transformative leap forward as leading experts, government officials, and industry stakeholders convene for a strategic retreat. The retreat, which is running from 28 August to 01 September 2023 in Swakopmund, aims to draft a landmark Tourism Satellite Account (TSA) Report that will illuminate the sector's economic impact and pave the way for sustainable growth.
This retreat, which comes at the end of the Namibia TSA Capacity Building Project was organised by the Economic Commission for Africa and the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) of Namibia and it holds a pivotal objective to collaboratively synthesise the preliminary compilations of the 10 TSA Tables resultant from the capacity building workshops held under this project into a policy guiding report that the government can safely rely on in making informed decisions on the sector.
The outcome TSA report is a vital tool for comprehensively evaluating Namibia's tourism contributions by quantifying the industry's economic value, employment opportunities, and potential for development. This report will shape data-driven decisions that steer the nation's tourism sector forward to new heights, unlocking untapped potential and sustainable progress.
The significance of the TSA Report for Namibia cannot be overstated. The Government of Namibia recognises tourism as an important driver of the economy but, the lack of quality and reliable data for the sector affects the proper accounting of the sector’s contribution to the economy and hampers the development of tourism in a sustainable manner. The TSA will serve as a compass for policymakers, industry leaders, and investors, providing accurate insights into the industry's influence on Namibia's economy. This data-driven approach is poised to elevate Namibia's tourism to new heights, unlocking untapped potential and sustainable progress.
The retreat is attended by National TSA Committee members drawn from key institutions including the government ministries, the National Statistical Office, the National Reserve Bank of Namibia, the National Tourism Board, Investment Board, and the academia. This diverse assembly of stakeholders ensures a well-rounded perspective that will enrich the TSA report's content and credibility. Their collective expertise will foster collaborative thinking and ensure a representative TSA framework that reflects the diversity of Namibia’s tourism sector.
The retreat is organised in a dynamic forum featuring a series of interactive panel discussions, and focused breakout sessions. These engaging activities foster in-depth exploration, knowledge exchange, and strategic planning; and allow for continued learning on effective reporting skills to ensure that the final TSA Report is not just about words or figures on paper but about weaving a story that captures the essence of Namibia and its touristic sites. In opening remarks, Ms Olayinka Bandele, Chief of the Inclusive Industrialisation Section, ECA SRO-SA- encouraged participants to work towards a ‘well-written TSA Report which gives a correct and reliable picture of the impact of the tourism sector to the Namibian economy and at the same time wielding the power to shape the country's tourism trajectory’, propelling it to new heights by providing actionable insights for policymakers, investors, and businesses to make informed decisions that amplify tourism's positive impact.
At the end of the retreat, its hoped that recommendations from the Tourism Satellite Account (TSA) Report mark a great milestone in the partnership to strengthen Namibia’s tourism data collection and reporting systems, but also a defining moment in Namibia's journey towards unlocking the full potential of its tourism sector.
Issued by:
Communications Section
Economic Commission for Africa
PO Box 3001
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel: +251 11 551 5826
E-mail: eca-info@un.org
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