Namibia registered more than 1.25 million tourist arrivals in 2024, marking a 45.5 percent surge compared with the previous year as the industry steadily regains momentum after the COVID-19 downturn.
Launching the 2024 Tourist Statistical Report in Windhoek on Wednesday, 3 December, Environment, Forestry and Tourism Minister, Indileni Daniel, said the 1,257,093 arrivals recorded represent 79 percent of 2019 pre-pandemic levels, underscoring the sector’s resilience.
South Africa retained its position as the leading source market, contributing 38.5 percent of all visitors, with other key African markets including Angola, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Germany remained the top overseas market, followed by the United States, Britain, France and the Netherlands, while Asian arrivals rose to 1.7 percent, up from 0.6 percent in 2021.
Holiday and leisure travel accounted for nearly half of all entries at 47.5 percent, while 15.8 percent of tourists visited for business.
Daniel noted that the ministry is finalising the National Tourism Spatial Development Master Plan to drive sustainable and inclusive growth and strengthen the country’s global competitiveness. Namibia will also scale up digital marketing initiatives and encourage domestic tourism to sustain year-round travel. The sector remains a cornerstone of the national economy, buoyed by the country’s renowned wildlife, dramatic desert landscapes and long-standing conservation-centred tourism model.