Community Based Tourism in Namibia Successes and Challenges

Community Based Tourism in Namibia Successes and Challenges Desert Knowledge Symposium – 2006 – Alice Springs. Australia By Usiel Ndjavera

Introduction • Namibia covers an area of 823 988 Km 2 and has a total population of 1, 826, 854 people • 335 000 Km 2 of land (41% of total) – Communal Land • 362 000 Km 2 of land (44 % of total) – Commercial Land • Protected areas cover 114 000 Km 2 of land (14 % of total)

Conservation Policy and Legislative Framework COMMERCIAL LAND: • 1968 / 1975 – Nature Conservation Ordinance • 1992 – Policy on Establishment of Conservancies in Namibia COMMUNAL LAND: • 1995 – Policy on Wildlife Management, Utilisation and Tourism in Communal Areas • 1996 – Nature Conservation Amendment Act

Conservation Policy and Legislative Framework COMMERCIAL LAND • Ownership over huntable game in 1975 • Booming wildlife industry • Options for mixed farming included game ranching and tourism • Farming units (5000 ha) too small for wildlife movements etc. , thus formed conservancies COMMUNAL LAND: • Wildlife remained state property • Declining wildlife numbers (internal and external poaching; unsustainable harvesting by colonial state)

Legal Basis of Conservancies Government gazette Of the Republic of Namibia N$1. 20 Windhoek - 17 June 1996 No. 1333 contents Government Notice No. 151 Promulgation of Nature Conservation Amendment Act, 1996 (Act 5 0 f 1996), of the Parliament ………………………. Page 1 Rights granted: * * * Rights of Ownership over huntable game Rights to revenues from the Sale of Game or Game Products Rights to Tourism.

Rights of conservancies A registered conservancy, on behalf of the community it represents, acquires new rights and responsibilities with regard to the consumptive and non-consumptive use and management of wildlife: Consumptive uses include: use of game for trophy hunting, consumption, commercial sale for meat or capture for live sale Non-consumptive uses include: tourism ventures such as community-based tourism enterprises and joint venture agreements with private sector entrepreneurs

Where are conservancies in Namibia? ü 44 Conservancies gazetted to date ü Around 105, 276 km 2, representing 10 % of Namibia, now falls within communal area conservancies ü Over 182, 429 rural people live within conservancies ü A further 14 % of Namibia is protected under the state Protected Areas network, and 5 % is within conservancies on freehold land

Community Income Generating Approaches • Lodges • Community Lodges of Namibia • Community Based Tourism Enterprises • Trophy Hunting • Private Concessions

Marketing of Trophy Hunting Joint Venture Lodges Campsites, crafts, guiding, info centres, traditiona homesteads

• NACOBTA founded in 1995 by local communities who wanted to develop tourism enterprises in communal areas. • 40 Active Member Enterprises- Campsites, rest-camps, traditional villages, craft centres, information centres, museums and local tour guides • Support services to enterprises: Training, Business Advice, Marketing, Small Grants, Advocacy, Booking and Information office • Tourism & Business Plans – demand driven • • • Quality product design and construction Project based fund raising – demand driven Appropriate & effective management • • Broker Partnership deals between Private sector and communities Monitoring, evaluation and forward planning. • Integrate sustainable enterprises into mainstream tourism

What are the principles of Community Based Tourism? Environmental Contributes meaningfully to conservation of the resources it uses Environmentally sound design and operation (EIA and EMP) Development fits into planning frameworks Social Employment preference to locals Encourages local ownership and management Works in harmony with local structures Economic Based on sound business principles with proven market demand Business plans developed Management / ownership based on accepted best practice

What are the CBT Products? Campsites Cultural Crafts Guides Tours Lodges Trophy hunting Info & bookings

Approaches/Processes 1. Planning – – Tourism plan Business plan Design plan Construction schedule & budget – Funding – Legal requirements 2. Development – – Management structures Training Construction Contracts & agreements 3. Operational – Finance & admin – Marketing – Monitoring & Mentorship 4. Future – Business review – New product dev.

Successes • CBT Profile has been uplifted • Private Sector awareness has been raised • 40 SMEs and 13 JVs are operational generating income of approx N$13. 5 m in 2005 • Best approaches and Processes in place • Products have been upgraded to meet market standards

Total CBNRM Benefits = N$20, 099, 173 Total Conservancy Benefits = N$13, 844, 429 Total Household Income = N$9, 109, 779

Failures Donor dependency- Lack of exit strategy Sustainability of enterprises Community management vs. Entrepreneurship • Development approach vs. Business approach • Some products do not meet market standards § § §

Barriers • Separation of CBT from mainstream • Insufficient business service providers • NGO’s lack business & tourism orientation • Unwillingness of Private sector to use CBTEs • Access to capital • Land insecurity • Lack of incentives for investing

Way forwards • Development of Mentorship Program as well as assistance from the Private Sector Operators. • The Introduction of a Fee For Service Concept • Diversification of funding sources for the support of community based tourism development in Namibia • Obtain positive input from Private Sector Operators in the Development of tourism SMEs

Thanks !

Tourist information • Uis • Aus

Cultural attractions and craft • Tsandi Homestead • King Nehale cultural centre