Gondwana-Collection-Logo
Gondwana-Collection-Logo
  • Explore
    • Experience Namibia
    • Outdoor Activities
    • Gondwana Membership
    • Value Vouchers
    • Birding in Namibia
  • Travel Offers
    • Lodges & Camps
    • Accommodation Map
    • Travel & Safaris
    • Car Rental
    • Promotions
    • Corporate
    • Events
  • News & Blog
    • News
    • Blog
  • About us
    • About Us
    • Sustainability
    • Gondwana Care Trust
    • Careers
    • Partners
    • Investors
  • Agent Portal
    • No Login Required
  • Contact us
    • Get in Touch
    • Visa Info
  • Book Now
Hit enter to search or ESC to close
  • Menu Item 1
    • Sub-menu Item 1
      • Another Item
    • Sub-menu Item 2
  • Menu Item 2
    • Yet Another Item
  • Menu Item 3
  • Menu Item 4

namibian culture , culture , namibia tourism

The importance of cultural tourism in Namibia

By Ndinelao Shikemeni
March 11, 2022

Cultural tourism is referred to as a type of tourism activity that allows the visitors to learn, discover, experience and consume the tangible and intangible cultural attractions or products in a specific tourism destination. These attractions or products relate to a set of distinctive material, intellectual, spiritual and emotional features of a society that encompasses arts and architecture, historical and cultural heritage, culinary heritage, literature, music, creative industries and the living cultures with their lifestyles, value systems, beliefs and traditions.

 

Namibia is aptly referred to as a melting pot of cultures due to the different traditions and communities. Communities vary from Nama, Damara, Baster, Coloureds, Hereros, Himbas, Germans, Afrikaaners, San, Aawambo as well as others. These communities are sought after by locals as well as international visitors and this gradually leads to cultural tourism.

 

Cultural Village Tour Gondwana

 

Culture is a unifier, and without its presence, tourism would not be able to flourish. Wherever people journey to, they have a yearning to unearth the way others live, preserve vital customs, and delight in gastronomic opportunities. More so, it presents a chance for local economic development in addition to merely a traveller's personal development throughout the journey.

The UNWTO Secretary-General, Zurab Pololikashvili, emphasised at a conference that, “Culture is one of the drivers of tourism growth, so protecting cultural heritage and promoting tourism for sustainable development are part of the same equation.”

 

Traditional dresses in Namibia

 

With the above mentioned, it is vital to express how cultural tourism can continuously be sustained:

 

Sustainability and legacy

 

Cultural Tour in Namibia

 

It is important that cultural studies are incorporated within school curriculums in both primary and secondary stages. This informs children from a tender age about diversity and aids to develop open-minded individuals, whereby they are accepting of those that are unlike them. In essence, it develops a legacy overtime, as these children will eventually work within various industries, which would result in a leap to a multi-ethnic and unbiased community.

 

Creative industry and tourism diversification

 

Culture of Namibia

 

Creative industries should be involved in the development of the cultural tourism, through which they are offered an opportunity to develop distinctive cultural offerings that would intrigue various visitors. Therefore, opportunities and financial support should be granted to local community members to enable them to continuously flourish. More so, with the ever-changing world due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, non-monetary collaborations amid industries are also quite helpful to the creative offerings and diversification of offerings.

 

Economic development

 

Cultures of Namibia

 

When local community members are offered the assistance and opportunity to develop unique cultural tourism offerings, it allows them to freely create that which they are passionate about and instantaneously take ownership thereof. This then leads to a generation of income and assists communities to become financially sustainable, and allows them to furthermore uphold their culture into the next generation.

 

There are many other ways in which cultural tourism can be sustained through, however the hope is that the unification of the above and more measures can be accurately implemented in order to sustain this spectrum of tourism.

 

Check out other interesting blogs relating to culture here.

 

Author –  I’m Ndinelao Shikemeni, from a small village called Ongha in Namibia. I am intrigued by research, writing and photography as it is an ideal way to gain knowledge about people and the world. And of course… to share it too!

Nela-Shikemeni

All posts
About Author
Ndinelao Shikemeni

You might also like
Culturally inspired snacks to try in Namibia
Culturally inspired snacks to try in Namibia
March 11, 2022
Reasons why you should visit a township in Namibia
Reasons why you should visit a township in Namibia
March 11, 2022
SUBMIT YOUR COMMENT
Gondwana-Collection-Logo-Footer-1

Gondwana Collection Namibia (Pty) Ltd | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy and GDPR Compliance | Terms & Conditions | Health & Safety

Subscribe Now

Stay up-to-date with our monthly Newsletter.

  • Book Now
  • Lodges & Camps
  • Safaris & Travel
  • Car Rental
  • Good To Know
  • Gondwana Care Trust
  • Your Local Travel Guide
  • Contact us
  • The Gondwana Card
  • Share Trading
  • Reservations
Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved.