First Tourist Survey since 2002
The team at the Noordoewer border post. From the left are Erykah Noabes, Enumerator, Brendon Bock, Field Manager, Queenie Brunzeel, Enumerator, Denise Goaseb, Enumerator and Isaak Goaseb, Field Supervisor.
The survey requests tourists leaving the country to voluntarily provide information on their time spent in the country. The questions range from the places they visited, to their mode of transport, their likes and dislikes as well as how much money they spent during their trip.
Enumerator teams are conducting the survey at Hosea Kutako International Airport, Walvis Bay International Airport and at the border posts of Noordoewer, Wenela, Buitepost, Ariamsvlei and Oshikango.
According to a statement issued by Ralph Höfelein, senior manager: Public Outreach at MCA, the main purpose of the Namibia Tourist Exit Survey 2012-2013 is to provide up-to-date, reliable and comprehensive information on foreign visitors, given that the last survey dates back to 2002.
He said the data will help set new benchmarks for the industry with respect to tourist behaviour, expenditures and visitor satisfaction. It will also improve the planning and development of the tourism sector, which is a key contributor to the country’s economy.
The MCA is funding the Tourist Exit Survey with N$3 million. The survey is conducted by Acorn Tourism Consulting in partnership with SIAPAC. Overall, the MCA is investing N$490million to boost Namibia’s tourism sector. Rounds two and three of a similar survey follow in October this year and January 2013.
The MCA provides development grants to Namibia to the amount of N$2.2 billion with the aim of reducing poverty through economic growth and is funded by the U.S. government through the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).
