Tour operators criticise poor national park maintenance as tourism image suffers

Dune 7 Photo: Trip Advisor

Swakopmund – Tour operators have raised serious concerns over the deteriorating state of public facilities at national parks, warning that poor maintenance is damaging the country’s international tourism reputation. Their criticism came during a stakeholder meeting held in Swakopmund, where industry professionals voiced frustration at broken and unhygienic amenities at popular destinations like Etosha National Park and Dune 7.

The Namibia Press Agency reports that stakeholders pointed to unusable toilets, littered picnic areas, and neglected infrastructure as persistent issues that are deterring both local and international tourists. Several operators described being embarrassed while accompanying clients to facilities that are in a state of disrepair, citing it as a growing threat to Namibia’s appeal as a travel destination.

The criticism comes just as the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism is proposing an increase in national park entry fees. The ministry argues that the additional revenue will be used to fund urgent infrastructure upgrades and improve visitor experiences. However, operators argue that without a clear and immediate plan to fix existing issues, higher fees could further discourage tourism.

Ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda previously defended the proposed increases, explaining that fee adjustments were necessary to keep parks functional and self-sustaining. According to the proposal, Namibians would pay N$50 per adult, while international visitors could be charged up to N$150 depending on the site.

Etosha National Park group camp bathroom/toilets

Despite this, frustration within the tourism sector is mounting. Operators argue that the condition of facilities does not reflect the value of the fees charged, with complaints about toilets at Etosha that remain broken for months and Dune 7 facilities that are rarely cleaned and frequently vandalised.

Tourism is a key sector of the economy, contributing significantly to employment and foreign exchange earnings.

The post Tour operators criticise poor national park maintenance as tourism image suffers first appeared on Future Media News.

The post Tour operators criticise poor national park maintenance as tourism image suffers appeared first on Future Media News.