Accommodation establishments affiliated with the Hospitality Association of Namibia (HAN) have returned to pre-COVID 19 levels of recovery, recording occupancy rates in July that exceed those of 2019.

Average occupancy rates at the 68 HAN establishments during July (traditionally the first month of Namibia’s tourism high season) stood at 61%, surpassing the July 2019 average occupancy figure by more than 1%.

“All along, the high season of this year, starting in July, had promised to be a very good one, with the expectation that by the end of 2023, Namibia's tourism industry could be fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels,” said HAN CEO, Gitta Paetzold.

Travellers from Germanic countries (Germany, Switzerland and Austria), continued to account for the highest share of occupancies (29%).

Paetzold called for the issues at Windhoek’s Hosea Kutako International Airport – where flights from carriers including Eurowings Discover and Qatar Airways were redirected over the weekend due to a ground handling services dispute – to be quickly resolved.

“We hope and trust that the current issues can be resolved soonest, to ensure that Namibia does justice to its potential of growing its tourism numbers in months and years to come,” she said.