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The Namibia Tourism
Board (NTB) was established by an Act of Parliament referred to as
the Namibia Tourism Board Act, 2000 (Act 21 of 2000) to, among other
things, regulate the tourism industry and to market Namibia as a
tourist destination. As a statutory body of government agency, the
NTB is the only legal national tourism organisation or authority in
Namibia mandated by Government to regulate the industry.
Structures of the Board
A board of Directors, appointed by the Minister of
Environment and Tourism, governs the NTB. The Board comprises two
members from private sector and three government officials drawn
from the Ministries of Environment5 and Tourism, Finance, as well as
Trade and Industry. The Board members in turn appoint the NTB's
executive.
Functions of the Board
- (a) to promote tourism by encouraging persons to
travel to and within Namibia.
- (b) to take measures to ensure that services
rendered and facilities provided to tourists comply with the
prescribed standards.
- (c) to consider and decide on applications for registration
of accommodation establishments and regulated businesses and to
grade accommodation establishments.
- (d) to promote the training of persons engaged
or to be engaged in the tourism industry to ensure that they
are adequately trained to provide services pertaining to
that industry.
- (e) to promote the development of the tourism
industry and to promote environmentally sustainable tourism
by actively supporting the long term conservation,
maintenance and development of the natural resource base of
Namibia.
- (f) to give advice and guidance to persons engaged in the
tourism industry.
- (g) to promote tourism activities on a national
, regional and local level, including the promotion of
private sector associations to represent their members in
the tourism industry and:
- (h) to advise the Minister on any matter relating to:
- The formulation or implementation of national policy
on tourism, including the creation of incentives to
encourage tourism development projects.
- the administration of this Act or any other law
relating to the tourism industry; and:
- to carry out any other function conferred or imposed
on the Board by or under this Act or any other law
Funding of
NTB OperationsThe NTB is funded through monies
received from the Government in the form of a grant, various fees
paid by the owners or operators for registration and grading, and
possibly donations.
Funds are also generated through a tourism levy from the
industry, which at this stage is collected from accommodation
establishments excluding camp sites as well as camping / caravan
parks.
Regulatory Framework
One of the responsibilities of the NTB is to regulate the tourism
industry by administering and enforcing various regulatory
instruments, such as the NTB Act, 2000 (Act No. 21 of 2000),
regulations prescribing the minimum requirements that must be
complied with by any accommodation or regulated tourism businesses
and the National Star Grading Scheme, etc. The prescribed minimum
requirements form the basis of the quality standards of the tourism
industry. These include the quality of physical facilities, safety,
hygiene and service delivery. The main reason is to ensure that
tourism businesses and establishments in Namibia offer quality
facilities and services. Therefore only those establishments or
businesses that meet the minimum requirements will be registered and
allowed to operate or conduct accommodation or tourism businesses.
Others that are not registered will be considered illegal businesses
or establishments. Another way to ensure quality is through awarding
star grades for superior service delivery and physical facilities,
in addition to the minimum prescribed requirements.
Enforcements of Regulations
Tourism inspectors carry out routine grading and registration
inspections to enforce the maintenance of minimum standards and to
ensure that businesses or establishments deserve the right to retain
registration or star grading. Other law enforcement agencies such as
the police, traffic officers, roads inspectors and immigration
officials stationed at the border posts can also enforce these
regulations as they deem appropriate.
Who Should Register
The following businesses and establishments are required under
the Namibia Tourism Board Act, 2000, to register with the NTB.
Accommodation: Backpackers' hostels, camping and caravan
parks, guest farms, guest houses, hotels, hotel pensions, rest
camps, self catering , bed and breakfast establishments, campsites,
lodges, tented lodges, resorts and permanent tented camps.
Regulated Businesses: Activity operators, air charter
companies, booking agents, conference centres, foreign tour
operators, shuttle and transport operators, tour facilitators, tour
and safari operators, trophy hunting operators and vehicle / car
hire companies.
What is the duty of tourists or visitors
to Namibia?
To avoid disappointment make sure that you only deal with
accommodation establishments and tourism businesses that are
registered with the NTB. |
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