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

2. Introduction
Namibia covers an area of Km2 and has a total population of 1,826,854 people
Km2 of land (41% of total) – Communal Land
Km2 of land (44 % of total) – Commercial Land
Protected areas cover Km2 of land (14 % of total)

3. 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

4. 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)

5. Legal Basis of Conservancies
Government gazette
Of the
Republic of Namibia
N$1.20 Windhoek - 17 June No. 1333
contents
Government Notice Page
No. 151Promulgation of Nature Conservation Amendment Act, 1996 (Act 5 0f 1996), of the Parliament ………………………………………………. 1
Rights granted:
* Rights of Ownership over huntable game
* Rights to revenues from the Sale of Game or Game Products
* Rights to Tourism.

6. 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

7. Where are conservancies in Namibia?
44 Conservancies gazetted to date
Around 105,276 km2, representing 10 % of Namibia, now falls within communal area conservancies
Over 182,429 rural people live within conservancies
A further 14 % of Namibia is protected under the state Protected Areas network, and 5 % is within conservancies on freehold land

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

9. Marketing of Trophy Hunting
Campsites, crafts, guiding, info centres, traditional homesteads
Joint Venture Lodges

10. 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

11. 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

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

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

14. Successes CBT Profile has been uplifted
Private Sector awareness has been raised
40 SMEs and 13 JVs are operational generating income of approx N$13.5m in 2005
Best approaches and Processes in place
Products have been upgraded to meet market standards

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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. Thanks !

22. Tourist information
Uis
Aus

23. Cultural attractions and craft
Tsandi Homestead
King Nehale cultural centre