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 Km2 and

has a total population of 1,826,854 people

• 335 000 Km2 of land (41% of total) – Communal Land

• 362 000 Km2 of land (44 % of total) – Commercial Land

• Protected areas cover 114 000 Km2 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 gazetteOf the

Republic of NamibiaN$1.20 Windhoek - 17 June 1996 No. 1333

contents

Government Notice Page

No. 151Promulgation of Nature Conservation Amendment Act, 1996 (Act 50f 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.

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

Rights of conservancies

Where are conservancies in Namibia?

A further 14 % of Namibia is protected under the state Protected Areas network, and 5 % is within conservancies on freehold land

Over 182,429 rural people live within conservancies

44 Conservancies gazetted to date

Around 105,276 km2, representing 10 % of Namibia, now falls within communal area conservancies

Community Income Generating Approaches

• Lodges• Community Lodges of Namibia• Community Based Tourism

Enterprises• Trophy Hunting• Private Concessions

Marketing of Trophy Hunting

Campsites, crafts, guiding, info

centres, traditional homesteads

Joint Venture Lodges

• 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

EnvironmentalEnvironmentalContributes meaningfully to conservation of the resources it usesContributes meaningfully to conservation of the resources it usesEnvironmentally sound design and operation (EIA and EMP)Environmentally sound design and operation (EIA and EMP)Development fits into planning frameworksDevelopment fits into planning frameworks

SocialSocialEmployment preference to localsEmployment preference to localsEncourages local ownership and managementEncourages local ownership and managementWorks in harmony with local structuresWorks in harmony with local structures

EconomicEconomicBased on sound business principles with proven market demandBased on sound business principles with proven market demandBusiness plans developedBusiness plans developedManagement / ownership based on accepted best practiceManagement / ownership based on accepted best practice

What are the principles of Community Based Tourism?

What are the CBT Products?What are the CBT Products?

Lodges

Tours

Info &bookings

Guides

CraftsCultural

Trophyhunting

Campsites

Approaches/ProcessesApproaches/Processes1. 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.

SuccessesSuccesses• 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

CBNRM Program Benefits 1994 - 2005

02,000,0004,000,0006,000,0008,000,000

10,000,00012,000,00014,000,00016,000,00018,000,00020,000,00022,000,000

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

Year

N$

Conservancy Non-Financial Benefits

NR-based Household/Wage Income

Conservancy / Enterprise Committee Income

CBNRM Program 2005 - Source of Benefits

Crafts3%

Ow n Use Game5%

Interest Earned1%

Game Meat Dist.4%

Thatching Grass12%

Live Game Sale1% Campsites/CBTEs

21%

Trophy Hunting13%

Joint Venture Tourism37%

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 informationTourist information

• UisUis

• AusAus

Cultural attractions and craftCultural attractions and craft

• Tsandi HomesteadTsandi Homestead

• King Nehale cultural centreKing Nehale cultural centre