The introduction of a visa-on-arrival requirement for top tourist source markets has not dampened Namibia’s tourism performance with average hotel occupancy rates exceeding pre-COVID levels during the country’s high season.
Tourism leaders previously expressed concern that the new visa requirement for previously exempt countries – which came into effect on April 1 – would have a detrimental impact on arrivals for the 2025 high season from July to October.
However, average nationwide occupancy reached 65.9% for the third quarter of the year, according to data collected from 133 properties by the Hospitality Association of Namibia (HAN). This exceeds the third quarter 2019 figure of 64.75% and last year’s figure of 63.2%.
The DACH region – home to Namibia’s largest overseas source markets of Germany, Austria and Switzerland – accounted for 33.9% of overall bed nights, growing its share from the 31.2% recorded in 2019.
France (which increased its share of bed nights from 5.9% to 7.9%) and Italy (4.75% to 8.5%) stood out as strong performers, helping to offset a significant dip in bed nights from domestic travellers (from a 22.7% share to 13.4%).
HAN CEO Gitta Paetzold said, while the figures highlight the advantages brought by direct air access to core source markets, connectivity is still constrained.
“Limited air access remains a significant barrier to further tourism growth. Forward bookings for 2026 are arriving more slowly than in previous years, influenced by high airfares and current global political uncertainty.”
