Namibia Minute.
Thursday, 23 July 2026
Namibia’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Thursday, 23 July 2026
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Namibian press · Person

Gitta Paetzold

2026-01-222026-07-23

What’s been said

Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.

  1. July 2026
  2. The Namibian

    Gitta Paetzold says the association has no mandate to regulate pricing among its members

    Source

    Hospitality Association of Namibia (HAN) chief executive Gitta Paetzold says the association has no mandate to regulate pricing among its members, arguing that demand and supply of goods determine what consumers ultimately pay in the hospitality sector.

    Why a hotel Appletiser costs 
N$70 in Namibia
  3. The Namibian

    Gitta Paetzold told tourists often feedback that city lacks events and museums lack proper storytelling

    Source

    Paetzold told The Namibian last week that the feedback the association often gets from tourists is that the city does not have events, and the stories around existing museums and historical buildings are not properly told.

    Windhoek needs more attractions, says hospitality association
  4. June 2026
  5. The Namibian

    Gitta Paetzold said the hospitality industry did not see a similar decline in visitors

    Source

    However, she said the hospitality industry did not see a similar decline in visitors.

    Visa regime change bites tourism
  6. May 2026
  7. The Namibian

    Chief executive of the Hospitality Association of Namibia Gitta Paetzold said the tourism industry regularly fills up on fuel with fuel containers at service stations

    Source

    She said the tourism industry regularly fills up on fuel with fuel containers at service stations and then transports the fuel to the remote areas where the industry operates.

    Minister to clarify fuel anti-hoarding directive tomorrow
  8. April 2026
  9. The Namibian

    Hospitality Association of Namibia chief executive Gitta Paetzold says shortage of pilots threatens high-end and high-value tourism

    Source

    Tourism industry operators say the shortage of pilots threatens the industry, particularly high-end and high-value tourism.

    Aviation industry wants foreign pilots
  10. February 2026
  11. The Namibian

    Hospitality Association of Namibia CEO Gitta Paetzold said tourism sector rebounded through targeted marketing and eco-conscious travel

    Source

    She says the tourism sector has rebounded through targeted marketing and a shift towards eco-conscious, intimate travel experiences.

    High-end tourism in robust recovery
  12. January 2026
  13. New Era

    Gitta Paetzold notes overall room occupancy for Q4 2025 decreased by 2.5%

    Source

    The CEO of the Hospitality Association of Namibia (HAN), Gitta Paetzold, notes that the latest tourism numbers show that the overall room occupancy for the fourth quarter of 2025 decreased by 2.5%.

    Room occupancy for Q4 drops by 2.5%
  14. New Era

    Gitta Paetzold urged Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism and Namibia Tourism Board to ensure alignment with national tourism spatial master plan

    Source

    She further urged both the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism and the Namibia Tourism Board to ensure that all entities align with the national tourism spatial master plan.

    Room occupancy for Q4 drops by 2.5%
Business

Hospitality Association defends high beverage prices as market-driven

The News

The Hospitality Association of Namibia says hotels set their own prices under free-market principles, following public complaints about beverage costs—with Appletisers ranging from N$60 to N$70 at some establishments. The association argues that demand and supply determine pricing, and that hotel prices reflect additional operational costs beyond supermarket shelf prices.

14 hours ago · The Namibian

Yesterday

  1. Hospitality Association defends high beverage prices as market-driven

    The Hospitality Association of Namibia says hotels set their own prices under free-market principles, following public complaints about beverage costs—with Appletisers ranging from N$60 to N$70 at some establishments. The association argues that demand and supply determine pricing, and that hotel prices reflect additional operational costs beyond supermarket shelf prices.

    14 hours ago · The Namibian

Tuesday 21 July

  1. Windhoek lacks attractions to retain tourist interest

    The Hospitality Association of Namibia says tourists find Windhoek lacks sufficient attractions and events, with feedback that museums and historical buildings are not properly promoted. While the city serves as a gateway to Namibia's tourism destinations, urban tourism remains limited to historic landmarks and township experiences.

    21 July 2026 · The Namibian

Sunday 28 June

  1. New visa policy linked to drop in German tourism

    German tourist arrivals to Namibia in 2025 fell compared to the previous year, potentially due to a visa policy introduced last April that ended visa-free travel for European countries. The number of European visitors dropped from 266,000 in 2024 to 210,000 in 2025, though the Hospitality Association of Namibia notes the industry has not seen a similar decline in source markets.

    28 June 2026 · The Namibian

Sunday 10 May

  1. Minister to clarify anti-hoarding fuel directive next day

    The minister of industries, mines and energy said he would clarify a directive issued Thursday that banned service stations from selling fuel in jerry cans or oil drums, after stakeholders in farming and tourism raised concerns. The ministry said the aim was to prevent panic buying, not to prevent legitimate purchases, though the Fuel and Franchise Association noted most Namibian farmers lack the consumer installation certificates required under the directive's exemption.

    10 May 2026 · The Namibian

Tuesday 14 April

  1. Aviation industry calls for faster foreign pilot work permits

    Namibia's aircraft operators say restrictive visa and work permit processes are constraining pilot availability, threatening aviation safety and tourism. The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association notes that Namibia's pilot pool is exhausted, with only 2% of recent pilot job applicants being Namibian nationals, and calls for the Home Affairs ministry to expedite work permits for qualified foreign commercial pilots and flight instructors.

    14 April 2026 · The Namibian

Friday 13 February

  1. Namibia's tourism sector recovers to 79% of pre-pandemic levels

    Namibia recorded 1.26 million international tourist arrivals in 2024, a 45.5% increase from 2023, with the high-end sector experiencing robust recovery driven by demand for eco-conscious, low-density experiences in destinations like Etosha, Sossusvlei, and emerging remote areas. The sector is projected to generate N$4.6 billion in 2025 with continued growth expected from improved air connectivity and diversified marketing strategies.

    13 February 2026 · The Namibian

Thursday 22 January

  1. Namibia's Q4 hotel occupancy falls 2.5% year-on-year

    Hotel room occupancy in Namibia for the fourth quarter of 2025 dropped 2.5% to 51.99% annually, according to the Hospitality Association of Namibia. While European tourists increased, particularly from D.A.CH countries, the sector faces challenges from high pricing and potential new levies.

    22 January 2026 · New Era

Gitta Paetzold — Namibian press coverage · Namibia Minute