Summit to be biggest marketing effort yet
Pictured are the representatives of the Uibasen Conservancy, George Mupaya Conservancy and Okandumba Conservancy who were sponsored by Bannerman Resources to attend the conference. (Photograph by Hilma Hashange)
With only 171 days left before the summit begins, the organising committee of the summit, Team Destination Namibia, has been hard at work preparing a “Summit never to be forgotten.” The team consists of a National Organising Committee and Sub Committees who are in charge of logistics including media, safety and security as well as social welfare.
According to Sem Shikongo, Director of Tourism at the Ministry of Environment and Tourism who is part of the organising committee, the Summit is not about making money and making profit but should be about marketing the country. “We must not see the summit as a basis of cost recovery but see it as the biggest marketing effort our country is taking in terms of who we are, what we have to offer and how we will receive the participants as our guests,” said Shikongo.
He says all Pre-Summit and 2 Day Adventures that were submitted were reviewed and successful candidates have already been notified. At least 550 participants have since registered to take part in the summit since the online portal where participants can register and book for the summit became active on 1 April 2013.
“We are proud to announce that the country now has 44% conservancy coverage which is a very big achievement that every Namibian should be proud of,” said Shikongo. He added that although not every conservancy will be visited by the participants, the summit should not be seen as a competition and urged all conservancies to offer support to one another and work together.” The idea is for us to learn from these participants who will visit our country and are equipped with knowledge of the tourism industry. We can all exchange ideas on how to make our businesses more profitable and how to market them to the high standards,” Shikongo highlighted.
Amongst the participants are 25 journalists from around the world who will also attend the summit. Pre summit adventure itineraries are 41 and 24 companies have proposed for the 2 Days of Adventure with one overnight in the field whilst 20 joint venture lodges will be visited as well as 19 conservancies. In true public-private partnership style, corporate sponsors such as FNB, Standard Bank and Bannerman Resources have all joined the sponsorship boat. Bannerman Resources sponsored 3 conservancies to attend the summit, namely Uibasen Conservancy, George Mupaya Conservancy and Okandumba Conservancy.
The Adventure Travel World Summit 2013 delegates will begin their Namibian adventure in the capital city, Windhoek for the first opening event on Saturday, 26th October. The Days of Adventure will be Sunday through Monday, with the second opening night in Swakopmund. Summit Sessions and Marketplace will take place in Swakopmund from Tuesday to Thursday, with busses transferring delegates back to Windhoek on Friday, 1 November.
