Leading tourism and economic bodies have added their voices to the growing criticism of Namibia’s restrictive new visa regime, warning that the new policy could severely hamper the country’s tourism industry and economic growth.

In a shock announcement on May 24, the southern African country’s Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security made public that Namibia’s cabinet had authorised the removal of 31 countries, including the majority of Namibia’s top overseas tourism source markets, from visa-exempt status, citing a lack of reciprocity.

Namibia’s Economic Policy Research Association (EPRA) has strongly opposed the move, calling upon the Namibian government to 'engage in constructive dialogue with non-visa reciprocating countries to resolve underlying issues'.

“By working together to address concerns and fostering a more cooperative approach, Namibia can protect its vital tourism sector and maintain its strong ties with key source markets. EPRA therefore strongly urges government to adopt a pro-business, best practice, evidence-based approach when it comes to policy formulation and implementation,” said Eben de Klerk, a member of the EPRA’s management committee.

A snap survey conducted by EPRA amongst 500 businesses found that 91% believed the restrictions would harm the tourism industry, 87% believed they would harm the economy in general, and 80% believed they would increase unemployment. 

De Klerk said that government had failed to acknowledge the valid reasons behind a lack of visa reciprocity from other countries. In 2012, Canada revoked visa-free access to Namibian nationals, with the most pressing concern being an unacceptably high number of asylum applications.

“Namibia had the highest immigration violation rate of all African countries, with 78% in 2011. Seventy-one per cent of travellers from Namibia made asylum claims in 2011,” De Klerk pointed out.

In July 2023, the UK Government revoked visa-free access for the same reason.

“It is not clear what Namibia has done to alleviate these concerns. Reciprocity is a complicated process that involves many factors. It is not simply a matter of introducing visa restrictions, and other countries in response lifting theirs. It can lead to a negative economic impact, without bringing about visa reciprocity,” De Klerk said.

SADC alliance weighs in

In a press statement, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Business Council Tourism Alliance, comprising top private sector bodies across the region, urged Namibia’s government to reconsider the policy, stating it could have a detrimental impact on various sectors of Namibia’s economy including tourism, hospitality, transportation, and retail, all of which rely heavily on international visitors.

"A restrictive visa regime can negatively impact the entire tourism value chain. It hinders not only leisure travel but also business travel, conferences, events, education, and trade, thereby limiting overall economic growth and development,” said the alliance’s project lead Natalia Rosa.

Describing the move as a 'puzzling U-turn', in light of the fact that Namibia was one of the first countries to introduce a remote working visa, the alliance said the proposed policy also appeared to contradict Namibia Airports Company’s recently-launched air access strategy, Air Connect Namibia, aimed at increasing international flights and connectivity.

Rosa further pointed out that evidence from across Africa, including success stories from Rwanda and Zambia, demonstrates that visa liberalisation significantly boosts tourism, foreign investment, and overall economic growth.

“Aligning visa policies with the air access strategy is essential to maximise the benefits of increased flight options and attract a larger influx of travellers. Namibia could look to successful examples like Rwanda, which has seen significant growth in its MICE tourism sector due to visa liberalisation and investment in infrastructure,” said Rosa.

Considering that countries in SADC are moving towards more liberal visa policies, Rosa cautioned that Namibia risks falling behind its regional peers and losing its competitive edge as a tourist destination.

"We urge the Namibian government to reconsider these restrictive measures and engage in dialogue with stakeholders to find solutions that balance security concerns with the need for economic growth and regional competitiveness," Rosa added.

Rosa suggested that Namibia could explore alternative solutions such as implementing more efficient visa processing systems like e-visas, targeted visa waivers for specific groups, or enhanced security measures at borders.

"All barriers to entry for international visitors must be critically examined and addressed to encourage longer stays, increase spending in the economy, and accelerate the recovery of the tourism sector," said Rosa.

Rosa stated that the alliance “remains committed to supporting Namibia's tourism industry and advocating for policies that promote sustainable growth and development”.