Namibia: new maritime museum in Luderitz

The harbour town of Luderitz in southern Namibia is hoping to attract more tourists with the construction of a new maritime museum.

Developers say the museum, planned to be opened in 2019, will be housed in an old power station following renovations. The site will also serve as a research center for the Namibia University of Science and Technology.
 
Sam Nujoma, Namibia's founding president, attended a presentation about the project in Luderitz. The promoter is Angel Tordesillas, a former fishing company executive.

Luderitz was booming a century ago because of the discovery of diamonds in the area. Today, most shipping goes through Walvis Bay, further north on the Atlantic coast.

Luderitz resident Crispin Clay describes the maritime museum as a "magnificent project" and says: "I just hope it works."

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Namibia: Establishment of two new tourism organisations

Establishment of two new tourism organisations

THE Ministry of Environment and Tourism has appointed a National Tourism Competitiveness Advisory Council (NTCAC) and Inter-Ministerial Committee on Tourism Development (ICTD).

The NTCAC, made up of 32 members selected from various government agencies and non-governmental organisations, such as Namibia Wildlife Resorts, the Namibia Training Authority, Namibia University of Science and Technology and the Tour Guides Association of Namibia, will be a think tank to advise government on tourism business and investment matters.

The council will also advise the ministry on challenges hindering growth of the tourism sector.

The ICTD, with 34 members selected from 18 ministries and two government agencies, will serve as an intermediary between the public sector, ministries and various agencies to harmonise different government policies that impact on tourism.

ICTD members were selected from the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration; Ministry of Information and Communication Technology; the National Planning Commission and the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Creation.

All members of the committees will serve for two years.

Announcing the two bodies on Monday, environment and tourism minister Pohamba Shifeta said Namibia has limited resources which should be used wisely to attain solid social and economic return on investments.

"We want to be sure that we spend our money well," he said.

The minister explained that the ICTD will particularly address factors hindering the growth of local tourism, while the council will be responsible for transforming the industry into an attractive destination for tourists and investment.

The national sustainable tourism growth and development strategy and national tourism investment profile and promotion strategy were also launched during the event.

These strategies will address constraints and the strategic repositioning of the tourism sector as a key national economic and development sector.

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