Namibia announces visa-on-arrival policy to boost tourism and trade

Namibian authorities have introduced visas upon arrival at Walvis Bay port from April 18, 2024.

The new policy, which aims to boost tourism and trade, came into effect immediately, VisaGuide.World reports.

In addition to Walvis Bay Port, foreign travelers can also obtain visas upon arrival at other major entry points such as Hosea Kutako International Airport and Walvis Bay Airport, as reported by XinhuaNet.

Other points providing such services include several border posts such as Trans Kalahari, Katima Mulilo, Ngoma, Impalila Island, Oshikango, Mohembo, Ariamsvlei, Noordoewer and Oranjemund.

As further reported, this type of visa costs 1,200 Namibian dollars (about 63 US dollars) and is valid for 90 days.

Etienne Maritz, Executive Director of the Ministry of the Interior, Immigration, Safety and Security, noted that this policy aims to simplify entry procedures, improve accessibility for travelers worldwide and boost the tourism and trade sectors.

By issuing visas at the point of arrival, the ministry wants to increase convenience for travelers while maintaining security measures.

He further said that this initiative makes Namibia more hospitable and attractive to tourists and potential investors.

As a crucial access point for maritime trade and tourism, Walvis Bay Harbor’s role in driving economic prosperity cannot be overstated.

The number of international arrivals in Namibia has increased by 98% in 2022

According to the Namibian Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Namibia recorded 461,027 international tourist arrivals in 2022. Such a figure marked a significant increase of 98.1 percent compared to 2021, when the number of international arrivals reached 232,756.

Furthermore, this figure shows a recovery of 28.9 percent compared to tourist arrivals in 2019, as noted by Pohamba Shifeta, the Namibian Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism.

This increase is a good indicator that the tourism sector is indeed on the road to recovery, after a massive decline over the past two years due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

In terms of travel season, 53.1 percent of foreign visitors traveled between September and December, 36.1 percent between May and August and 10.8 percent between January and April.

Meanwhile, the top ten tourism markets were South Africa, Angola, Germany, Zambia, Botswana, France, the United Kingdom, the United States, Italy and Switzerland.