WINDHOEK: The Namibia Tourism Board (NTB) has denied spending N.dollars 60 000 on costumes for the President, First Lady, and Vice President, attending the Etotha Carnival.
This comes after claims circulated on social media and in local newspapers that NTB intended to spend N.dollars 60 000 on costumes for the politicians attending.
The Etotha Carnival Festival is scheduled from 27 June to 01 July at the Kangonde Salt Pan in the Oshikoto Region.
In an interview with Nampa on Thursday, NTB CEO Bonnie Mbidzo stated that the amount spent on advertising for this event is within the company’s budget and is not an uncommon spend.
‘Therefore, NTB planned to participate in this noble initiative. The Namibia Tourism Board only spends what is budgeted for, and any claims suggesting otherwise are misleading and inaccurate,’ he said.
Mbidzo stated that the carnival is organised in collaboration with several entities, including the Ministry of Environment and the Ondonga Traditional Authority, and that its primary ro
le is to oversee the carnival’s marketing efforts, ensuring its visibility and promotion both locally and internationally.
‘The Namibia Tourism Board has sponsored several high-profile delegates and government officials. NTB as a marketing arm of Government has over the past given corporate gifts for visiting journalists on familiarisation trips and at international trade fairs and road shows, NTB has been giving these hats and jackets on numerous occasions,’ he said.
He also stated that NTB understands the worries about the reported increase of its projects and would want to emphasise that its budget is carefully monitored to guarantee prudent spending.
He said funding for these expenditures is allocated from NTB’s existing budget, which has been changed to reflect new priorities.
‘As always, we remain committed to maximising the impact of our limited resources and will continue to prioritise strategic investments that drive long-term growth and development in the tourism sector,’ Mbidzo stated.
He emph
asised the Etotha Carnival’s significance as an important event in Namibia’s tourism calendar, noting that it demonstrated the festival’s collaborative nature, which strives to enhance tourism, bringing economic advantages to the region.
NTB’s marketing initiatives are intended to attract tourists, raise awareness, and promote local companies, he stated.
Source: The Namibia Press Agency