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Namibia has been added to the Travel Corridor list for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, according to a statement from the UK Government.
The statement added that the government would keep the conditions in these countries, territories and regions under review. “If they worsen we will reintroduce self-isolation requirements,” reads the statement.
Furthermore, travellers arriving in England from Namibia and Rwanda will no longer have to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival.
The new ruling came into effect from November 21.
Travel promotion body, African Travel & Tourism Association (ATTA), has welcomed the move, with CEO, Chris Mears, noting: “With direct flights possible from Doha and Dubai in peak season, both also currently on the UK Travel Corridor list, this is a very positive step for travel in 2021.”
Travel trends
The UK is one of the top five international tourism source markets for Namibia with 35 000 British travellers visiting the country in 2018, according to the Namibia Tourism Board.
A report titled ‘Long Haul Traveller Perceptions of Namibia’ – published by Acorn Tourism Development Consultants last year – highlighted that viewing wildlife and enjoying the scenery were the top booking drivers for those who had visited.
The report further noted that 33% of UK visitors to the country booked their visit via a travel agent and 33% via a tour operator.
When planning their holiday to Namibia, 28% of participants used the Internet, 23% used guide books and 13% used holiday brochures. Only 8% used holiday forums such as TripAdvisor for research about the destination.
The average length of stay was 13 nights, with Windhoek, Swakopmund and Etosha National Park proving to be the most popular destinations. Top activities were ranked as wildlife viewing (27%), touring/multi-centres (13%), hiking/trekking (13%), fishing (13%) and adventure sports (10%).
Entry requirements
According to the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Namibian airports are open as well as sea ports and some land borders.
Any person entering Namibia must present proof of a negative COVID-19 test on arrival.
If the negative result is less than 72 hours old, there is no quarantine requirement. However, if the negative result is older than 72 hours but less than seven days, travellers will need to quarantine for seven days.
Source: tourismupdate.co.za