Namibia’s popularity as a leisure destination is expected to grow exponentially in 2017, as no fewer than three different international airlines have launched routes to Windhoek in the past few months.  Qatar, KLM and Ethiopian Airlines have all introduced regular flights to the Namibian capital, putting the country firmly on the map in the eyes of the international travel market.

The increased flight access also allows the country to position itself as an attractive MICE destination for international conference and incentive organisers. “Increasingly, event organisers are recognising Namibia as a stand-alone destination,” says Iris Himmel, Manager Business Solutions for SW Africa.

Himmel says clients used to combine Namibia with countries such as South Africa and Botswana, but this was not an ideal solution. “MICE clients who combine destinations, very often make the mistake of wanting to push too many things into too short a time-span,” she says, adding that the new direct flight connections will encourage travellers to see Namibia as a destination in its own right.

However, although the country has all the ingredients to become a popular MICE destination, MD of SW Africa, Henk Graaff, warns that there are still some obstacles to overcome.

“Namibia remains short on infrastructure,” he says, adding that the greatest challenge is to match the available conference space with available accommodation of the same category that could accommodate bigger groups.

Also, the long distances between attractions can be a deterrent for MICE organisers. “Vast distances mean a long time spent in coaches, unless budget is sufficient to charter and fly from point to point.”

Finally, the fact that conferences and events need to be booked at least two years in advance in Namibia also often comes as an unwelcome surprise to MICE organisers.

Despite the obstacles, however, Himmel foresees that the country will position itself as an attractive destination. “There are mountains and dunes of opportunity for MICE in Namibia!”