NTE-2020 will be different, but exiting!

To expect the Namibia Tourism Expo to be the same this year as in the past, would be an unrealistic expectation. The COVID-19-pandemic has had an impact on all of us, but more importantly it has seriously changed the way all of us do business, so we need to adapt to circumstances.

BUT this corona virus has also speeded up change in a part of Africa, where we always thought we have time - time to change at our pace. Well, the future has caught up with us in a big way. And the Namibia Tourism Expo is up to that challenge!

The NTE-2020 will be different in an exciting way. As organiser of the NTE-2020, Namibia Media Holdings (NMH) wants to continue supporting Namibia’s tourism industry. We will improve on the existing platform for the industry, to allow exhibitors to present their products and in the process network with their fellow exhibitors and visitors of the NTE-2020.

We want you to share your ideas and promote your establishments, whether that is as supplier, community or tourist destination. There can be no doubt that we will not conduct the Expo on a similar high scale to that of the previous 21 years. Therefore we need to focus on what counts, so as to revive an ailing industry. We need to place your establishments on the map and thereby aid suppliers to get back on their feet, so that we can all create employment.

Maggy Mbako, the public relations officer of NMH, previously pointed out: “We are no longer just placing participants together in an unorganized manner. Exhibitors with common interests will be bundled, thus allowing visitors of the Expo to locate them more easily as suppliers, wineries and vehicle traders will each be placed in proximity to each other, so will tour operators, lodges, guest houses and accommodation establishments.

We will engage technology and allocate times to exhibitors, allowing visitors to visit tourist establishments “live”. These interactions will be posted live on NMH’s internet sites and you as attendees will literally direct the script by asking questions and telling the employee on sight, to show you what is going on at the establishment concerned. That will tie in nicely with the Tourist of the Year competition, as well as the Responsible Tourism Awards (RTA), which will still be awarded to tour operators and establishments that have proven their allegiance to environmentally sustainable tourism.

We will continue to engage with different towns through the Namibia Town of the Yearcompetition, and visitors will meet the bridal couple of the year. As accommodation establishment you are well advised to not underestimate the impact of that competition: Promote your establishment as people keep on marrying.

Since the beginning of September NMH is giving away vouchers to the value of N$ 1 000 to readers and interested visitors. A person can only win one voucher, but that voucher entitles you as winner or visitor of the Expo, to book at an exhibitor’s establishment at a discount of N$ 1 000, because that will be the portion, that NMH will sponsor.