Namibia Strengthens Capacity for National Tourism Satellite Account Development
NAMIBIA ENHANCES CAPACITY FOR DEVELOPING NATIONAL TOURISM SATELLITE ACCOUNT (TSA) THROUGH FIVE-DAY TRAINING WORKSHOP, FOCUSING ON RELIABLE TOURISM STATISTICS AND SECTOR GROWTH. ATTENDED BY KEY OFFICIALS FROM GOVERNMENT MINISTRIES, STATISTICAL AGENCIES, AND PRIVATE SECTOR, EMPHASIZING IMPORTANCE OF ACCURATE DATA FOR INFORMED DECISION-MAKING AND STRATEGIC PLANNING.
A second five-day training workshop commenced on Monday, 15 May 2023, at “The Barn” in Windhoek, aimed at enhancing the capabilities of key officials in developing Namibia’s National Tourism Satellite Account (TSA). This initiative is crucial for the growth and development of the Namibia tourism sector.
In his address to the participants during the opening session, Director for Tourism and Gaming, Mr. Sebulon Chicalu, expressed his gratitude to the Economic Commission for Africa, Sub-Regional Office for Southern Africa (ECA-SRO-SA) for their continuous support and commitment in building national capacity for producing reliable and timely tourism statistics. He stressed the importance of accurate data for the tourism sector, as it provides a comprehensive view of its contribution to the economy. Chicalu further stated, “The TSA will help address the sector’s leakages and facilitate its growth.”
Mr. Abel Sindano, Executive-Economics Department at the National Statistics Agency (NSA), emphasized the significance of capacity building in tourism statistics to develop the country’s TSA. He highlighted the urgency of this effort, as the country currently relies on outdated data from 2015 surveys to make decisions about the sector. Sindano also stressed the need for equipping participants with relevant skills for future TSAs, stating, “The skills we build today should benefit the economy as a whole. I urge all trained participants to continue supporting the development of successive national TSAs, even after leaving their current institutions, once UNECA’s technical support ends.”
Ms. Olayinka Bandele, Chief of Inclusive Industrialization at ECA SRO-SA, delivered remarks outlining the progress achieved through previous engagements, leading to the success of the current workshop. These milestones included the project launch, an orientation workshop in May 2022, and the first capacity-building training held in August 2022. Bandele underscored the importance of a comprehensive TSA, which provides a holistic framework for measuring the contribution of tourism to Namibia’s economy. It offers detailed information on tourism consumption, supply, employment, and investment, enabling policymakers to make informed decisions and allocate resources effectively.
Bandele further highlighted that implementing the TSA offers multiple benefits for Namibia, including a better understanding of tourism’s direct and indirect impacts on the economy, identification of growth opportunities and challenges, and support for evidence-based policy formulation and strategic planning. The TSA also facilitates monitoring tourism’s contribution to sustainable development goals and provides a basis for benchmarking and international comparisons.
Thanks to previous workshops facilitated by UNECA, significant progress has been made in developing and finalizing tourism survey questionnaires, as well as advising on appropriate methodologies for data collection. The first round of surveys, conducted from 17 to 30 October 2022 to gather high season tourism data, received support from UNECA, followed by a data cleaning exercise in January 2023 to ensure data quality. During the training session, participants received feedback on the surveys from MEFT and the National Statistics Agency, including presentations on methodologies and key survey findings.
Over 40 participants from various institutions, including government ministries, the national statistical office, the national bank, Namibia Tourism Board, the private sector, academia, and tourism professionals, attended the workshop. Their collective efforts aim to strengthen Namibia’s capacity to develop a comprehensive and reliable National Tourism Satellite Account, fostering the sustainable growth of the country’s tourism sector.
About United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) was established in 1958 as one of the UN’s regional commissions, with the aim of promoting economic and social development, fostering regional integration, and encouraging international cooperation for Africa’s progress. Comprising 54 Member States, the ECA serves as both a regional branch of the UN and an important institution within Africa’s framework.
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