During the period spanning January to February of 2024, the collective number of international arrivals at various nationwide airports amounted to 71,584 passengers, showing an increase from the 57,921 passengers recorded during the corresponding period in 2023.
This was revealed by Simonis Storm which further highlighted that however, it is noteworthy that these figures, while showing improvement, remain lower than the pre-pandemic benchmark of 88,907 passengers observed in 2019.
“On a monthly average, the first two months of 2024 saw 35,792 arrivals, compared to an average of 28,961 in 2023, indicating a sustained positive momentum,” the research firm said.
In February 2024, Hosea Kutako International Airport (HKIA) continued to lead as the primary gateway for passenger arrivals in Namibia, recording the highest number of passengers. Eros Airport and Walvis Bay also showed increased activity, with 3,487 and 3,070 passenger arrivals, respectively.
“The data emphasizes the significant position of HKIA within Namibia’s aviation industry, while also highlighting the valuable role played by smaller airports in facilitating regional travel and tourism. Additionally, this distribution of arrivals offers insights into the preferred geographical locations and travel behaviors within the country.”
In March 2024, the occupancy rate across hospitality establishments nationwide reached 49.2%, showing an increase from 36.4% in the previous month and 43.7% in March 2023. The average occupancy rate for the first quarter of 2024 was 40.3%, compared to 54.0% in the previous quarter and 37.5% in the same period of 2023. This marks the highest quarterly occupancy rate since the start of the pandemic, signaling a positive beginning for the local tourism sector.