In the past year 2024, the number of holidaymakers in Namibia reached the pre-corona crisis level for the first time. According to the Hospitality Assosciation of Namibia (HAN), the nationwide room occupancy rate was 54.48 per cent. This is three percentage points higher than in 2023 and one percentage point higher than in 2019.
The number of overnight stays provides a good benchmark for the development of tourism in Namibia. In addition, there are the inbound tourism statistics, which will only be released in the middle of the year.
Central Europe, Namibia's largest source market, has shown continuous growth over the past two years, explained HAN Managing Director Gitta Paetzold. The same applies to the USA and the United Kingdom. The markets in Africa and Asia, on the other hand, do not seem to have recovered as well, according to her.
Paetzold attributes the strong growth in the Central European markets to the expanded range of direct flights between Windhoek and the international hub in Frankfurt. She is optimistic for the year 2025. Namibia is a stable, safe holiday destination with good infrastructure and unique attractions, she says.
Global tourism has almost fully recovered
Namibia's growth is slightly above the overall global result. According to the UN Tourism World Tourism Barometer, a projected 1.4 billion holidaymakers travelled in 2024. This corresponds to 99 per cent of pre-pandemic levels.
The greatest growth compared to pre-corona levels was recorded in the Middle East (95 million arrivals) at 32 per cent. Africa (74 million, mainly North Africa) had 7 per cent more arrivals than in 2019. Europe, the world's largest destination region, (747 million) recorded an increase of one per cent.
Sven-Eric Stender
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