Africa-Press – Namibia. Ohangwena governor Kadiva Hamutumwa says the region has the potential to become one of Namibia’s leading cultural and liberation heritage destinations if marketed properly.
She said the region’s population of more than 300 000 gives it a clear advantage in developing both tourism and hospitality while vigorously exploring cultural tourism.
Hamutumwa was speaking to a group of journalists currently touring the northern part of the country in partnership with the Namibia Tourism Board (NTB) to explore cultural and township tourism to boost Namibia’s tourism arrival figures.
“Tourism has also been identified as a priority under government’s National Development Plan 6. The plan aims to boost the economy and strengthen cultural diplomacy by developing key attractions across the country. We also want to capitalise on that as a revenue stream for our people,” she said.
According to her, Ohangwena has a young population and this poses an advantage as young people can take up space within the tourism and hospitality industry. Hamutumwa added that the Okongo Conservancy, which is managed by the local community, is currently one of the region’s biggest tourism assets.
She explained that wildlife has already been introduced, and the conservancy is expected to grow into a major attraction once plans are set in motion.
Another site is the Eenhana Shrine, where remains of veterans of the liberation struggle were buried. She said while the shrine is a symbol of memory and resilience, the region can also use this historical site to attract more tourists to the country. “The shrine helps us narrate our history and the sacrifices made during the liberation struggle. Ohangwena was a war zone before independence and this gives us the opportunity to showcase our history to the world,” she said.
According to her, unmarked graves scattered across the region also hold untold stories as not all graves are for Namibians. Hence, she said these sites could be developed into memorial places that would attract international visitors interested in Namibia’s liberation history and tell the country’s own stories. However, she said tourism in Ohangwena should not only be about the past but should also share the cultural norms and way of living with visitors.
Hamutumwa also added that the region’s diverse landscapes – from the flood plains and Oshanas in the west to the sandy and forested areas in the east – provide different tourism experiences. She expanded that with proper infrastructure, marketing and support from the Namibia Tourism Board, Ohangwena could become a hub for cultural, liberation and village tourism. NTB CEO Sebulon Chicalu said such initiatives aim to shift the narrative of tourism beyond landscapes and wildlife to include the daily lives of Namibians.
“Tourism in Namibia should not only be about the dunes, wildlife and sceneries. Storytelling, food, culture and heritage must be part of what visitors experience when they come here. That way, tourism benefits will reach the people,” he explained.
Chicalu added that Namibia has not yet capitalised fully on its cultural assets.
According to him, Namibians are not earning much from cultural services, despite culture, traditional food and storytelling being some of the country’s greatest treasures.
He said Namibia attracted just under 864 000 international visitors in 2023, but NTB is targeting 1.8 million by 2030. Tourism’s contribution to GDP, valued at N$14.3 billion in 2022, is projected to rise to N$18.5 billion over the same period.
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