The Namibian Association of Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) Support Organisations (NACSO) took part in this year’s Tourism Expo as part of a joint exhibition with the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Tourism Supporting Conservation, Integrated Rural Development and Nature Conservation, and The Namibian Wetlands Route. The joint exhibition brought these five organisations together; with each having a part to play in promoting Namibia's conservation tourism through regulating laws, technical support to conservancies and community forests, tourism joint venture lodges, responsible tourism and travel, and tangible benefits to local communities within these areas. The Namibia Tourism Expo has an excellent reputation for providing a centralised marketing platform bringing together conservation, tourism, hospitality, and entrepreneurship. This is an excellent opportunity for individuals in the tourism industry from various parts of the country to network and to promote local tourism.
A Tourism is for All Workshop was held where Nabot Mbeeli, the Senior Coordinator for CBNRM Projects at Namibia Nature Foundation gave a presentation on funding opportunities for youth in conservation, and Marcheline Podewilts, the manager of conservancy, gave a presentation on how conservancies operate and sustain their communities.
At the Conservation Meets Tourism stand, the participants were taken through a journey via the Namibia Conservation Tourism Airlines. Each participant received a boarding pass to experience the alliance of organisations across the tourism and conservation sector in reimagining sustainable tourism in Namibia and had an opportunity to buy essential oil products produced by locals in the Kunene region. The boarding pass initiative helped market community conservation tourism as a viable travel destination which yield returns for conservancy members. At the final destination, once guests received all stamps on their boarding pass, they entered a competition and stood a chance to win 2 night stay at one of eleven joint venture lodges within communal conservancy areas.
Congratulations to the following winners: Jimmy Aoxamus, Beatrice Masilingi, Petra Liebenberg, Johanna Paulus, Alina Nelenge, Colin Namalambo, Michelle Mchemwa, Gerhard Kasamu, Jannie Steyn, Ferdinand Katire, Frank Wittneben, and Algernon Van Wyk.
Thank you for taking part in the competition. We hope you will enjoy your stay at these amazing places as you continue to explore Namibia and contribute to community conservation and sustainable tourism.
To discover Namibia’s Communal Conservancies, where to go, what to do or simply get inspired, visit: www.conservationtourism.com.na
