Namibia Minute.
24 April 2026
A daily Namibian brief · Est. 2026
Windhoek—:—London—:—New York—:—Beijing—:—
Organization

Namibia Tourism Board

Also known as: NTB · Namibian Tourism Board

Namibia Tourism Board — state tourism promotion agency facing budget overruns and strategic initiatives, including marketing training and regional travel partnerships.

Tourism & Environment

Former minister criticizes Sossusvlei shuttle restrictions from May 2026

The News

Former Cabinet minister Calle Schlettwein has opposed the government's decision to restrict access to Deadvlei in Namib-Naukluft Park, saying the closure of Sossusvlei for self-drive visitors and requirement to use a single concessionaire robs Namibians of their right to free access. The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism announced last week that only two categories of operators—Grow Namibia and registered tour guides employed by lodges—will be authorised to provide shuttle services to Deadvlei effective 1 May 2026, with self-driving beyond the 2×4 parking area no longer permitted for tourists.

21 April 2026 · New Era →

Tuesday 21 April

  1. Former minister criticizes Sossusvlei shuttle restrictions from May 2026

    Former Cabinet minister Calle Schlettwein has opposed the government's decision to restrict access to Deadvlei in Namib-Naukluft Park, saying the closure of Sossusvlei for self-drive visitors and requirement to use a single concessionaire robs Namibians of their right to free access. The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism announced last week that only two categories of operators—Grow Namibia and registered tour guides employed by lodges—will be authorised to provide shuttle services to Deadvlei effective 1 May 2026, with self-driving beyond the 2×4 parking area no longer permitted for tourists.

    21 April 2026 · New Era →

Saturday 18 April

  1. Deadvlei access limited to authorised shuttles from May 2026

    The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism announced that effective 1 May 2026, self-driving access to Deadvlei from the Sossusvlei 2×4 parking area will be restricted; only two categories of operators—Grow Namibia (trading as About Adelt Sossusvlei Management) and registered lodge tour guides—will be permitted to provide shuttle services.

    18 April 2026 · Informanté →

Friday 17 April

  1. Namibia Tourism Board buys N$1.5m car amid financial crisis

    The Namibia Tourism Board has purchased a luxury N$1.5-million Toyota Land Cruiser Prado for its chief executive Sebulon Chicalu despite internal warnings about overspending and financial strain. The board has incurred significant budget overruns—including N$8.5 million on marketing against a N$2.9 million budget and N$4.5 million on employee costs against N$2.2 million budgeted—and insiders claim it may need to draw on investment reserves to pay salaries.

    17 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 13 April

  1. Boxing bonanza tribute to Founding President scheduled for May 9

    The MTC Nestor Sunshine Boxing Academy will host the Tribute to Founding President Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma Boxing Bonanza on 9 May, featuring title defences by Fillipus Energy Nghitumbwa and Mateus Heita, alongside other top Namibian fighters. The event aims to celebrate Nujoma's legacy in sport development and position local fighters for world title opportunities.

    13 April 2026 · New Era →

  2. Namibian boxer Nghitumbwa fights world title eliminator in May

    Fillipus 'Energy' Nghitumbwa will defend his WBO Global super bantamweight title against Leonardo Carrillo of Colombia in a world title eliminator on 9 May at the Windhoek Showgrounds, as part of the 'Tribute to Dr Sam Nujoma Boxing Bonanza' event.

    13 April 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 26 March

  1. Tourism board and FNB train small entrepreneurs in Windhoek

    The Namibia Tourism Board and First National Bank are hosting a two-day workshop for over 100 tourism small and medium-sized enterprises, focusing on tourism training and financial literacy to help grow businesses. The bank contributed N$60,000 towards the initiative, which aims to support emerging entrepreneurs through training, mentorship and capacity-building.

    26 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 24 March

  1. 97% of Namibian SMEs lack bankable status with banks

    About 97% of small and medium enterprises in Namibia are considered non-bankable by traditional financial institutions, with access to finance identified as a major barrier. The Namibia Tourism Board CEO attributes this to entrepreneurs' lack of preparation, poor documentation, absent collateral, weak financial management, and limited business skills, noting that roughly 90% of SMEs fail within five years.

    24 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 20 March

  1. Hunting operators seek broader Black Namibian participation

    Hunting tourism operators are concerned about the lack of Black Namibians in the hunting sector and have called for platforms and support to increase inclusivity and training. The Namibia Professional Hunting Association president emphasized the need for industry unity, ethical standards, and collaboration to maintain Namibia's reputation as a leading hunting destination while facing regional competition.

    20 March 2026 · New Era →

Saturday 14 March

  1. IPC lawmaker challenges Nathaniel-Koch tribunal nomination

    Independent Patriots for Change lawmaker Rodney Cloete has challenged Namibia Tourism Board vice chairperson Rachel Nathaniel-Koch's nomination as Lands Tribunal board chairperson, citing alleged financial misconduct including N$3.4 million in excessive travel expenses and her previous removal from the Transportation Commission. Cloete raised questions with the agriculture minister about whether she is fit for the position and demanded a full vetting report; Nathaniel-Koch responded that she was unaware of the nomination and is willing to respond once the matter is clarified with her.

    14 March 2026 · The Namibian →

Tuesday 3 March

  1. Government cuts funding to state-owned enterprises in 2026/27

    The finance ministry plans to reduce subsidies and capital transfers to state-owned enterprises from N$1.3 billion in 2025/26 to N$615.7 million in 2026/27, citing fiscal consolidation and high public debt. Several SOEs including TransNamib and the Agricultural Bank of Namibia will receive no government transfers, while priority support goes to the National Housing Enterprise and Road Fund Administration.

    3 March 2026 · The Namibian →

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