WINDHOEK — Pohamba Shifeta, Namibia’s Minister of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism, announced a notable increase in international tourist arrivals for 2023, signaling a robust recovery for the nation’s tourism sector post-COVID-19.

According to Namibia Press Agency, who unveiled the 2023 Tourism Statistics Report on Monday in Windhoek, international arrivals nearly doubled from 461,027 in 2022 to 863,872 in 2023. “The year 2023 proved to be a good year with regard to tourist arrivals. It has been a significant recovery after the negative effect of COVID-19 on international tourist arrivals,” Shifeta commented during the launch.

The minister emphasized that these figures demonstrate a 54% recovery toward pre-pandemic tourism levels and underscore Namibia’s growing appeal as a global tourist destination. South Africa remains the top source of tourists from Africa, with Angola, Zambia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe also contributing significantly. On the international front, Germany leads the overseas market, followed by the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and the Netherlands.

Further detailing the arrival patterns, Shifeta noted that 36.8% of the tourists visited between September and December, with 31.9% arriving between May and August, and 31.4% from January to April of 2023.

Shifeta also highlighted the ongoing challenges facing the tourism industry, including the global economic situation, climate change, and security issues, but reassured that the government is actively addressing these through strategic interventions laid out in the Tourism Sector Recovery Plan. This framework aims to strengthen policy measures and foster collaboration with various stakeholders to sustain and enhance tourism growth.