The Namibian government, in collaboration with the tourism and hospitality sector, will conduct a targeted international tourism revival initiative between July 15 and August 15 as part of its efforts to fast-track the opening of its borders to international tourists and pave the way for an easing of travel restrictions.

President Hage Geingob stressed the need to reopen to tourists as soon as possible following the impact of COVID-19 on global tourism in general and on Namibia in particular.

He said for now, all points of entry would remain closed except for the transportation of imported goods.  

“This initiative will look to accommodate a limited number of tourists from carefully selected low-risk tourism source markets that have the potential to contribute towards our tourism sector, which employs over 100 000 Namibians.

“Modalities for this initiative will be announced in the coming weeks and this trial will inform and strengthen public-sector preparations for the imminent reopening of points of entry and more relaxed lockdown restrictions.”

The President said from June 30, all Namibians and non-Namibians entering the country must submit to a COVID-19 PCR test on arrival, and mandatory, government-supervised quarantine will be at travellers’ cost.

“Only citizens who cannot afford to quarantine at own cost – as will be defined in the directives – can apply to be quarantined at cost to government,” he said.