Visitors may have to wait up to 2 hours for processing.
After the implementation of the visa-on-arrival system, both Hosea Kutako and Walvis Bay international airports have experienced lengthy lines, causing frustration among numerous travelers.
On April 1st, Namibia implemented thevisa-on-arrival system. This new policy enables tourists and visitorsfrom more than 30 nations, such asGermany and theUnited States, to remain withinthe countryforup to ninetydays.
"It took us three and a half hours just to get into the country, even though we had an e-visa – can you believe this?" remarked a pair of tourists in the arrival area at Hosea Kutako International Airport. They recently recounted their ordeal to Spotlighting Namibia, an online independent civic publication.
As stated in the report, the two vacationers arrived as scheduled at 1:20 PM. Despite having obtained and paid for their visa-on-arrival beforehand through an online process, they weren’t fully processed until approximately 5:00 PM.
They figured it would be around 6:30 by the time they obtain their rental car and can depart.
Dusk driving poses too many risks. Therefore, we must cancel our reservation at the initial lodge and swiftly find a boarding house in Windhoek instead.
An article released earlier this week indicated that comments from both tour operators and visitors arriving at Hosea Kutako were alarming. They assert that the recent system implementation is causing substantial holdups and might have severe repercussions for the tourism sector.
The report indicated that the recent system update resulted in extended wait times of up to two hours for individuals entering the nation.
They worry that the circumstances might deteriorate further as the peak season begins towards the end of June.
A number of travel firms are sounding the alert. Currently, we're experiencing the off-peak season. They worry that wait times at airports could become considerably longer when the peak season begins at the end of June.
Marketing professionals emphasize that the initial impression holds significant weight. Consequently, travel firms worry about substantial harm being done to Namibia’s reputation. According to the piece, they are urging the Ministry of Home Affairs to uphold its commitment to ensuring a seamless experience for visitors upon their arrival.
DENIAL
Following this, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety, and Security have dismissed the article, asserting that its claims are "not just inaccurate but seem to be an intentional effort to misrepresent public understanding, foster uncertainty, and undermine a effective national strategy that has notably improved Namibia’s immigration framework as well as its tourist industry."
The ministry highlights that the visa-on-arrival system has already yielded N$100 million in revenue and facilitated entry for 70,000 visitors and tourists since its launch.
They also claim that the procedure has been simplified by removing the requirement for e-visa holders to fill out an extra arrival visa form when entering, thus cutting down multiple stages in the immigration process.
TESTING THE SYSTEM
Even so, long lines were seen at Hosea Kutako International Airport early yesterday morning as two large aircraft arrived nearly simultaneously—one coming from Addis Ababa and the other from Johannesburg—each touching down 10 minutes apart.
Every aircraft was transporting more than 200 travelers.
A guest at Hosea Kutako mentions that their immigration experience was pleasant when the system's limits were put to the test due to the arrival of the two planes.
As far as we could see, most travelers showed up adequately prepared with all necessary documents, and 10 out of the 12 passport control stations were staffed, with two supervisors patrolling among them," they mention, noting further that "the queue for the scanning process was notably shorter than normal due to improved efficiency.
Nevertheless, they observed that visitors were still obligated to complete the arrival and departure forms, which led to significant delays due to the high number of incoming travelers.
They report that their overall experience involved friendly and efficient officials with all systems functioning properly; however, due to high passenger numbers, delays should be anticipated.
WORRIED
At their monthly gathering held at the beginning of this month, the Hospitality Association of Namibia (HAN) voiced worries about the recent system changes in the period right after they were introduced.
As stated by Ally Karaerua, the chairperson of HAN, the initial reaction following the introduction of the visa-on-arrival system was extremely negative.
According to market feedback, this entire procedure resulted in a highly unfavorable perception, and Namibia should consider revising and enhancing its systems and information-sharing practices to recover some of its tarnished reputation, he stated.
The organization emphasized their efforts to reduce the adverse effects of these modifications, noting that input from businesses would be crucial for assessing and enhancing the system moving ahead.
Provided by Syndigate Media Inc. ( Syndigate.info ).
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