Geographic Description

Namibia is located on the western coast of southern Africa. It is bordered to the south by South Africa, to the north by Angola, to the east by Botswana, and along the Caprivi Strip in the northeast by Zimbabwe and Zambia.  It is a sparsely populated country and is home to the world’s oldest sand dunes.

Tourism Policy Environment

Tourism development in Namibia is guided by the following legislation and policies:

• Tourism White Paper, 1994;
• Community-Based Tourism Policy, 1995;
• Environmental Assessment Policy For Sustainable Development And Environmental Conservation, 1995;
• Draft National Tourism Policy, 1999; and
• Revised Draft National Tourism Policy 2001-2010, 2001.

The Tourism White Paper (1994) guides the development of tourism in Namibia, while ensuring that Namibia’s biodiversity is not compromised in the process. It acknowledges that eco-tourism is one of Namibia’s primary markets, and requires that income acquired through tourism-related activities is reinvested in conservation efforts, including conservation of wetlands (Government of Namibia, 1994).

A Community-Based Tourism Policy (Government of Namibia, 1995a) was developed to ensure that disadvantaged people benefit socially and economically from tourism development. This policy also promotes biodiversity conservation. The Ministry of Environment and Tourism is required to monitor and ensure that tourism development is environmentally sustainable and that it includes the participation of the people affected by it (Government of Namibia, 1995a).

The Environmental Assessment Policy for Sustainable Development and Environmental Conservation provides for the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystems (Government of Namibia, 1995b). It does this within the context of tourism, as biodiversity is viewed as a particularly import aspect of the tourism sector.

The Draft National Tourism Policies of 1999 and 2001 promote the development of tourism, while stressing the importance of sustainable development, particularly in regards to the environment.

Certification / Award Programmes

eco awards Namibia

Eco awards Namibia is a partnership between civil society and government to support and facilitate the development of sustainable tourism establishments in Namibia, and to increase Namibia’s reputation as an environmentally responsible tourism destination. The eco awards Namibia programme acknowledges accommodation establishments that operate according to eco-friendly principles.

The awards are granted based on criteria reflecting eight categories:

• Conservation;
• Water management;
• Waste management & sewerage disposal;
• Energy management;
• Suitable & appropriate construction & landscaping;
• Guiding;
• Staff development; and
• Social responsibility & human welfare.

TFCAs

Namibia participates in three TFCAs – the /Ais-/Ais – Richtersveld (with South Africa, the Iona-Skeleton Coast (with Angola) and the Kavango-Zambezi (with Angola, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe).