WINDHOEK, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Namibia opened on Thursday for the 19th year its national flagship tourism event, the Namibia Tourism Expo, here under the theme of "Safe Travel."
Maggy Mbako, public relations executive of Namibia Media Holdings, said that more than 300 exhibitors and over 24,000 visitors are expected to attend the event.
"The theme of the Expo emphasizes safety for all travelers," said Mbako.
According to Mbako, since its inception in 1999, the expo has grown and became popular for offering a centralized marketing avenue for the Namibian Tourism Industry.
Launching the expo, which will run until Saturday, Pohamba Shifeta, Minister of Environment and Tourism, urged Namibians to safe guard roads or else Namibia risks losing the tourism market and the multiplier effect it generated.
"I cannot over emphaise the impact of safety and security to our economy and most especially for tourism. The government thus urges tourists and road users to acquaint themselves with adequate information on the country profile to sustain road safety," Shifeta said.
Meanwhile, Alpheus Naruseb, Minister of Works and Transport road transport, called for the country's collective attention to curb rising number of accidents.
"The country's drive towards poverty eradication and the attainment of Vision 2030 requires significant economic development and expansion to which transport is expected to play a critical role," said Naruseb.
"I want us to declare zero tolerance to crime against tourist and those that drives under the influence of alcohol as well culprits of crime to our wildlife. Tourism is everybody's business," said Naurseb. Enditem
