Namibia's tourism accommodation sector has posted its strongest second-quarter performance since before the COVID-19 pandemic, with average occupancy surpassing both last year's figures and 2019 levels, even as official tourism arrival statistics indicate a decline in visitors from key source markets.
According to the Hospitality Association of Namibia (HAN), average accommodation occupancy during the second quarter of 2026 exceeded 57%, representing an increase of nearly 5% compared to the same period in 2025 and more than 3% above the pre-pandemic benchmark of 2019.
CEO of HAN, Gitta Peatzold, said that the positive trend continued in June, when occupancy reached just under 59%, up sharply from just under 48% recorded in June last year and well above the 51.2% recorded in June 2019.
She said that despite the encouraging occupancy figures, there is an apparent contradiction with the tourism ministry’s recently released 2025 Tourism Arrival Statistics, which showed a decline in arrivals from Namibia's traditional international source markets.
However, Paetzold said that HAN’s data paints a different picture for the country's commercial accommodation sector.
More than 47% of all guests staying at participating establishments during the second quarter of 2026 originated from Europe, compared to 45% during the same period last year and just 37% in 2019.
Paetzold said that HAN believes the difference between its occupancy figures and the official arrival statistics may be explained by the segments each dataset represents.
The association's monthly occupancy survey primarily covers middle- to high-end commercial accommodation establishments, including hotels, lodges and established guesthouses.
In contrast, the lower- to middle-market self-drive segment, where visitors often use fully equipped rental vehicles and camp at sites not included in HAN's reporting, may have experienced a decline reflected in the ministry's arrival data.
Paetzold said a broader review of Namibia's tourism statistics would be beneficial, noting that passenger numbers recorded by the Namibia Airports Company have continued to grow over the past year.
The increase in air passenger traffic has coincided with several international airlines expanding services to Namibia or announcing new routes, signalling growing confidence in demand for the destination.
She said that while optimistic about the sector's recovery, HAN cautioned that Namibia cannot afford to become complacent as competition within the region intensifies.
Paetzold pointed to the recent opening of the Luiana Plains Expedition Camp in south-eastern Angola as an example of neighbouring countries investing aggressively in tourism development.
She said that the project was developed through collaboration between Namibia's Wild Waters Group and Zimbabwean tourism operators Pioneers and Batonka Lodge, with strong backing from the Angolan government.
According to Paetzold, the development demonstrates the growing potential of transfrontier tourism within the Kavango-Zambezi (KAZA) region and highlights the importance of government support in unlocking regional tourism opportunities.
The association argued that easier cross-border travel, harmonised tourism policies and stronger cooperation among Southern African governments will be critical to maintaining the region's competitiveness and attracting additional international airlines.
Looking ahead, Paetzold said Namibia's tourism industry remains cautiously optimistic but stressed that sustained growth will depend on stronger regional collaboration and supportive government policies.
"We hope and trust that the tourism sector will gain the support of governments and authorities within SADC to help optimise the full potential our region holds to become the real 'Eden of Africa'," she said.
