The Namibia Tourism Board (NTB), in partnership with South African Airways (SAA), yesterday hosted a high-impact B2B networking session aimed at strengthening regional tourism collaboration across Africa.
The event brought together local Namibian operators and travel leaders from 15 African countries, following a nine-day Familiarization (FAM) trip designed to turn regional interest into tangible tourism packages.
Participating countries included South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria, Ghana, Ethiopia, Uganda, Mozambique, Malawi, Rwanda, the DRC and Angola. Discussions centred on boosting Namibia’s Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) sector, as well as streamlining visa regulations to ease intra-African travel.
The Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB) also highlighted tourism as a priority sector for regional investment, outlining key opportunities for potential investors. The session was graced by representation from the South African High Commission to Namibia.
Leading the conversation, organisers emphasised the power of experience, noting that many participants had been promoting Namibia without having visited the country themselves. The FAM trip provided first-hand exposure to Namibia’s unique tourism offerings, helping operators better position and package the destination.
Head of Marketing at NTB, Charmaine Matheus, underscored the importance of regional collaboration.
“We aren’t just neighbors; we are collaborators in one of the most vibrant industries in the world, said. It is one thing to tell someone about a country, but another to have them experience it themselves. Our goal is to build stronger bridges.
“Namibia and Africa have incredible stories to tell, but they travel further when we work together,” she said.
Matheus also challenged partners to rethink regional travel.
“This session is about streamlining travel and creating cross-border experiences. When the world thinks of adventure, we want them to think of Africa first,” she emphasised.
