Staff Reporter
THE Environment Minister, Pohamba Shifeta, said that Gondwana Collection’s new Tourism Heroes Fund Initiative, which focuses on rewarding efforts in crime-fighting and prevention, supports the government’s commitment to prioritizing justice.
“This reward system will assist and support the government efforts in ensuring that culprits and criminals that target tourists and tourists’ establishments are identified quickly, apprehended and brought to book to face the full wrath of the law,” he said.
Shifeta said this following the official launch of the Tourism Heroes Fund on Tuesday afternoon during a special tea break at Parliament hosted by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Peter Katjavivi.
“The Tourism Heroes Campaign is more than just an initiative. It’s a tribute to the men and women who have shown unwavering dedication to our nation’s prosperity in terms of conservation and also in terms of preserving our national heritage. Their stories inspire us and their actions remind us of the power of unity and resilience in the face of various challenges,” Katjavivi said.
The initiative was launched at Parliament’s Courtyard – a venue that the Chief Executive Officer of Gondwana, Gys Joubert, stressed is symbolic of the importance of the tourism industry in Namibia, as it represents the centre of tourist attractions in Windhoek, with the Independence Memorial Museum and the Christuskirche right across the street from it.
Joubert explained that the campaign also emphasizes the significance of the tourism industry, which contributes significantly to the country’s economy, provides income for rural communities, and generates employment, particularly for the youth.
The Public Relations Officer of Gondwana, Christiaan Jacobie, further elaborated that the initiative was also born in response to a concerning uptick in criminal activities targeting tourists. He added that Gondwana’s contribution of N$1,000,000 to the initiative, consisting of N$500,000 in cash and N$500,000 in-kind donations facilitated through the Gondwana Care Trust, reflects their commitment to addressing this concern.
Shifeta expressed gratitude to Gondwana for spearheading and contributing to the initiative, emphasizing that this will support the government’s efforts in crime-fighting and prevention. He, too, emphasized the importance of this initiative by reiterating that the country has experienced concerning numbers of violent attacks on tourists over the past few months.
“This has sparked concern from the tourism sector and the country as a whole. We have recently publicly condemned these attacks and called upon stakeholders to collaborate in ensuring the safety of our tourists. On this basis and in response to the concerning surge in criminal activities, Gondwana Collection Namibia has initiated the Tourism Heroes Campaign,” he said.
He also emphasized the detrimental impact of assaults on tourists have on the country’s tourism economy, which is still recovering from the severe blow dealt by the Covid-19 outbreak.
“In Namibia, tourism has a multiplier effect as it contributes significantly to the Gross Domestic Product of the Country; the creation of new businesses and employment opportunities as well as income generation, especially for communities in rural areas, leading to the social and economic empowerment of many people,” Shifeta added.
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