This post was a dedication to last year's Travel Adventure Summit to Windhoek, Namibia, the first to be held on the African continent. It's content, depicting some of the wonders of Namibia in terms of its rich culture compelled me to post it on my newly created blog, and hence its compilation.
Namibia hosted the 2013 World Adventure Travel Summit in October, with the delegation's adventure destined for the capital city Windhoek, from the 20th to 26th October before it proceded to the country’s holiday resort jewel of Swakopmund at the west coast where it ended on the 01 November 2013. The Adventure Travel Summit was held not long after the United Nations Convention Conference on Desertification, UNCCD which ended in Windhoek’s Country Club towards the end of last September 2013.
Namibia welcomed 600 delegates for the Adventure Travel Summit who included a large number of seasoned writers who have published books, magazines as well as packaged documentaries for international tourism/travel broadcasting channels, joining the local team of passionate nature lovers. The heading of this content, ovo naanaa and mweyapo in one of the local languages, Oshiwambo, basically means a warm welcome to the hundred of tourists for the global event.
Thousands of Namibians might not yet clearly know, understand; experience and appreciate the magnitude of what their beloved country has to offer in terms of its tourism. Some might yet not see their quality contribution as members of the various diverse groups which make up the nation fabric and contribute to the tourism package which the rest of the world is so much after.
This status quo is attributed to amongst others the factors that many of the Namibians are yet to embrace domestic tourism and travel, not to mention international adventure which most of the time enables people to appreciate what their countries offer once they see what other nations have in comparison to theirs.
Some Namibians do not travel to the country’s unique spots because they do not necessarily have the means to do so, but because they are yet to value the quality of adventure. Some are also yet to engage in community conservancies to know how to manage that and see the benefits of such actions. But, their tourism authority is doing its best to improve the situation.
But, despite that, Namibia as a country could be equalized to a precious, top quality polished diamond it terms of its tourism package rating. Such a package contains of the following:
The unique cultures from the diverse languages to physical appearance of some of the nation’s groups in terms of their attires, the traditional food, the country’s history with the background of the liberation struggle, yet the nation reconciled and currently lives in harmony, developing and nurturing democracy, the country’s geographical set up with interesting contracts giving a picture of three countries in one, with the desert, mountainous areas to woodlands. The inhabitants’ hospitality coupled with the State leadership’s vision to have a constitution with policies that guarantee the management of this precious travel adventure commodity package in terms of conservation and environmental sustainability. All these complemented by Namibia’s cleanliness in Africa and the ability to manage summits of that nature makes the country the ideal setting for the travel adventure summits and other international conferences, with credit to the national leadership, the Ministry of Environment and Tourism team and the general Namibian public for maintaining peace and stability – but above all, conserving the Land’s natural and unspoiled beauty. But, again, like diamonds, not many of Namibians have yet seen or benefitted from such high value stones. And that is why the media and the relevant authorities must continue to disseminate and educate the nation on the adventure travel “ precious mine” at their disposal, the need to continue to develop and nurture it and share the success story with the rest of the world just as much as they can learn from their counterparts too. Infact the media is yet to write more about this summit, at least before it kicks off, just to create awareness among the adventure setting owners through various platforms especially radio which is still more accessible to many.
The World Adventure Travel Summit agenda and line-up is an exciting adventure at its best, with delegates arriving to the treat of pre-summit adventure activities in the capital city. It is show-casing local tourism set up with almost all guest houses, hotels and lodges listed on the event’s website, (visit www.adventuretravel.biz and go to ‘Connect’, choose Summit 2013),. Activities including quad biking, horse riding; surfing, star gazing and all modes of transport clearly outlined for the travellers to experience. The country’s popular tourism spots and all necessary information including that of the delegates, speakers and the media lists as well as the agenda are well-packaged and accessible to all on the web. There is even a ten minute promotional video on the country’s unique tourism opportunities and its importance to the summit and why Namibia was chosen to the spot for this world adventure this year. Infact for those who might not get an opportunity to be part of the summit, surfing through the event website can give you a mental experience of not only what the summit is about and the benefits to Namibia, but also takes you on a journey of Namibia’s tourism adventure in terms of its visual power – pictures, video and text – a full multimedia package indeed. The organizers have also been so helpful, and ready to accommodate some journalists who cannot make it to the summit due to reasons including budgetary constraints, offering them an option of “Skype Interviews” with some of the speakers or Adventure Travel Trade Association Executives during or possible just before the summit provided the interview request are specific in allocating the relevant interviewees and partners.
Once again, karibusana as they say in Kiswhahili which means welcome and –come and enjoy your adventure in an unspoiled nature and peaceful Namibia. Hakuna Matata, which means there is no problem.
Compiled by Menesia Muinjo
Thank you to Adventure Travel Summit Organizers, Martin Wiemers and Casey Hanisko for the information which enabled me to compiled this piece.
Namibia hosted the 2013 World Adventure Travel Summit in October, with the delegation's adventure destined for the capital city Windhoek, from the 20th to 26th October before it proceded to the country’s holiday resort jewel of Swakopmund at the west coast where it ended on the 01 November 2013. The Adventure Travel Summit was held not long after the United Nations Convention Conference on Desertification, UNCCD which ended in Windhoek’s Country Club towards the end of last September 2013.
Namibia welcomed 600 delegates for the Adventure Travel Summit who included a large number of seasoned writers who have published books, magazines as well as packaged documentaries for international tourism/travel broadcasting channels, joining the local team of passionate nature lovers. The heading of this content, ovo naanaa and mweyapo in one of the local languages, Oshiwambo, basically means a warm welcome to the hundred of tourists for the global event.
Thousands of Namibians might not yet clearly know, understand; experience and appreciate the magnitude of what their beloved country has to offer in terms of its tourism. Some might yet not see their quality contribution as members of the various diverse groups which make up the nation fabric and contribute to the tourism package which the rest of the world is so much after.
This status quo is attributed to amongst others the factors that many of the Namibians are yet to embrace domestic tourism and travel, not to mention international adventure which most of the time enables people to appreciate what their countries offer once they see what other nations have in comparison to theirs.
Some Namibians do not travel to the country’s unique spots because they do not necessarily have the means to do so, but because they are yet to value the quality of adventure. Some are also yet to engage in community conservancies to know how to manage that and see the benefits of such actions. But, their tourism authority is doing its best to improve the situation.
But, despite that, Namibia as a country could be equalized to a precious, top quality polished diamond it terms of its tourism package rating. Such a package contains of the following:
The unique cultures from the diverse languages to physical appearance of some of the nation’s groups in terms of their attires, the traditional food, the country’s history with the background of the liberation struggle, yet the nation reconciled and currently lives in harmony, developing and nurturing democracy, the country’s geographical set up with interesting contracts giving a picture of three countries in one, with the desert, mountainous areas to woodlands. The inhabitants’ hospitality coupled with the State leadership’s vision to have a constitution with policies that guarantee the management of this precious travel adventure commodity package in terms of conservation and environmental sustainability. All these complemented by Namibia’s cleanliness in Africa and the ability to manage summits of that nature makes the country the ideal setting for the travel adventure summits and other international conferences, with credit to the national leadership, the Ministry of Environment and Tourism team and the general Namibian public for maintaining peace and stability – but above all, conserving the Land’s natural and unspoiled beauty. But, again, like diamonds, not many of Namibians have yet seen or benefitted from such high value stones. And that is why the media and the relevant authorities must continue to disseminate and educate the nation on the adventure travel “ precious mine” at their disposal, the need to continue to develop and nurture it and share the success story with the rest of the world just as much as they can learn from their counterparts too. Infact the media is yet to write more about this summit, at least before it kicks off, just to create awareness among the adventure setting owners through various platforms especially radio which is still more accessible to many.
The World Adventure Travel Summit agenda and line-up is an exciting adventure at its best, with delegates arriving to the treat of pre-summit adventure activities in the capital city. It is show-casing local tourism set up with almost all guest houses, hotels and lodges listed on the event’s website, (visit www.adventuretravel.biz and go to ‘Connect’, choose Summit 2013),. Activities including quad biking, horse riding; surfing, star gazing and all modes of transport clearly outlined for the travellers to experience. The country’s popular tourism spots and all necessary information including that of the delegates, speakers and the media lists as well as the agenda are well-packaged and accessible to all on the web. There is even a ten minute promotional video on the country’s unique tourism opportunities and its importance to the summit and why Namibia was chosen to the spot for this world adventure this year. Infact for those who might not get an opportunity to be part of the summit, surfing through the event website can give you a mental experience of not only what the summit is about and the benefits to Namibia, but also takes you on a journey of Namibia’s tourism adventure in terms of its visual power – pictures, video and text – a full multimedia package indeed. The organizers have also been so helpful, and ready to accommodate some journalists who cannot make it to the summit due to reasons including budgetary constraints, offering them an option of “Skype Interviews” with some of the speakers or Adventure Travel Trade Association Executives during or possible just before the summit provided the interview request are specific in allocating the relevant interviewees and partners.
Once again, karibusana as they say in Kiswhahili which means welcome and –come and enjoy your adventure in an unspoiled nature and peaceful Namibia. Hakuna Matata, which means there is no problem.
Compiled by Menesia Muinjo
Thank you to Adventure Travel Summit Organizers, Martin Wiemers and Casey Hanisko for the information which enabled me to compiled this piece.
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