Tourism industry warns concession changes threaten sector

Namibia’s tourism industry has warned that recent developments around the Sossusvlei shuttle concession risk damaging the country’s global image, disrupting operations and undermining a key economic sector, amid growing frustration over a lack of engagement from government.

The concerns were raised by Tour and Safari Association of Namibia (TASA) chairperson Wiebke Priilaid and executive committee member Philippe Laporte, who say contradictions in concession terms and limited communication from the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) have created uncertainty across the industry.

At the centre of the dispute is whether the Sossusvlei concession remains non-exclusive, as previously communicated by MEFT, or has effectively become exclusive, restricting access to a single concession holder. Priilaid said the lack of clarity is affecting operators, international partners and travellers.

“The plea really from our industry is that we would like to engage and we would like transparency and we would like solid answers,” she said.

TASA, which represents 147 members, said it had first requested engagement with the ministry in late 2025, followed by further formal requests in February and again in April 2026. In a letter dated 12 February 2026, the association, acting under the Federation of Namibian Tourism Associations (Finata), requested an urgent meeting with the minister to address concerns around concession governance, operator access and long-term sustainability. “Our intention is not to raise complaints, but to seek clarity, strengthen cooperation, and ensure that the Ministry, the private sector, and all affected communities work together,” the letter states.

However, Priilaid said responses from the ministry have been limited and did not address key concerns.

“The sort of five-word replies that we did get on some of our queries told us absolutely nothing,” she said. The dispute escalated following a mid-April 2026 clarification by MEFT on the implementation of the Sossusvlei shuttle concession.

In its response to TASA, ministry spokesperson Vilho Hangula said the concession terms had not changed.

“The terms and conditions of the contract are as awarded in February 2024, nothing has been converted and no decision was made at a later stage to change,” he said. Hangula added that self-drive access beyond the 2x4 parking area would not be permitted under the agreement. “Self-drives will not be allowed beyond the 2x4 parking area… in line with the signed contract,” he said.

Industry representatives said the ministry’s response indicated that the April position reflects the concession contract and supersedes earlier public statements on the matter. TASA argues that this creates a contradiction between earlier assurances of a non-exclusive concession and the current implementation. “A concession cannot be ‘non-exclusive’ on paper but ‘exclusive’ in practice,” the association said. Operators say the Sossusvlei issue is not isolated, but forms part of wider concerns around concession management in Namibia.

In its February letter, TASA also raised concerns about the concession process in the Dorob National Park, including the potential concentration of large areas under a single concessionaire. “The issue at hand is not the number of concessions held by any individual… but rather how these concessions are awarded, managed, controlled, and aligned with constitutional requirements,” the letter states. The association warned that such decisions could affect the tourism value chain and the balance between conservation, access and economic participation.

Laporte said the industry is not opposed to concessions, but to the way they are implemented. “If it’s presented in a transparent and factual manner, then we have the facts… but at the moment we don’t have that situation,” he said. Tourism is one of Namibia’s largest contributors to GDP, and operators warn that policy uncertainty is already affecting demand. “You can’t design a Namibia package and not include Sossusvlei,” Priilaid said.

Operators say the changes also pose practical challenges, including capacity constraints and delays. “You might have 100 people in front of you before you can even go,” she said. Laporte warned that the changes could affect both the visitor experience and Namibia’s reputation as a destination. “Why are we trying to damage those points and that amazing image that we have been building,” he said. With frustration mounting, the industry is considering further action. “If we continue receiving a brick wall, we will be forced… we have no option,” Priilaid said.

Operators are compiling documentation for submission to oversight bodies, while legal action remains a possibility. However, both Priilaid and Laporte stressed that engagement remains the preferred outcome. “We are opening our arms… we want to discuss, we want to understand,” Laporte said. TASA said its goal remains to work with government to ensure fair, transparent and sustainable concession management.

“Our goal is simple: to work with the Ministry in a spirit of respect, transparency, and shared responsibility,” the association stated. The industry is now calling for urgent engagement to resolve the dispute and restore certainty in the sector.