Leading tourism and economic bodies have added their voices to the growing criticism of Namibia’s restrictive new visa regime, warning that the new policy could severely hamper the country’s tourism industry and economic growth.
In a shock announcement on May 24, the southern African country’s Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security made public that Namibia’s cabinet had authorised the removal of 31 countries, including the majority of Namibia’s top overseas tourism source markets, from visa-exempt status, citing a lack of reciprocity.
Namibia’s Economic Policy Research Association (EPRA) has strongly opposed the move, calling upon the Namibian government to ‘engage in constructive dialogue with non-visa…
