Poly and CoW sign MOU
(L-R) Mr Niilo Taapopi, Chief Executive Officer, City of Windhoek and Prof. Tjama Tjivikua, Rector, Polytechnic of Namibia, holding the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), on the development of promotional and sustainable tourism destination strategy yesterday at the Polytechnic Hotel School. (Photograph by Mandisa Rasmeni)
Prof. Tjama Tjivikua, Rector of the Polytechnic of Namibia said that it is fact that academic institutions and public libraries make valuable contribution to cities as key tourist attractions and therefore to ensure the success in promoting tourism in the city it will be important that the quality of tourism products are strengthened in order to provide a pleasant experience for tourist and fellow citizens.
Prof. Tjivikua thanked the CoW for choosing the Polytechnic as a partner in developing the initiative and that through collective effort the partnership has potential to promote and drive the sustainability of the tourism sector such that it could contribute to socio-economic development.
Chief Executive Officer of City of Windhoek, Niilo Taapopi said that implementation of tourism activities in local areas requires a highly distinctive interaction with other sphere of government and private sector players, therefore in this context the study aims to create a platform for discussion where compatible tools and approaches can be utilised to enhance discussions around tourism planning.
“The most important objective for the study is to get all stakeholders talking the same language and work towards a common goal since tourism is everybody’s business, and focus needs to be placed on issues and solutions that will direct change,” said Taapopi.
Figures from the Namibia Tourism Board indicate that in 2012 the City received an estimated 272 103 visitors and the City has an average of 110 establishments, 1 373 rooms and 2 177 beds with an occupancy rate of 30%.
