Ministry rejects Claims

By Ellanie Smit

(Edited by S. Noechel)

Windhoek

The dispute over new access regulations for Sossusvlei and Deadvlei has intensified. The Ministry of Tourism is denying claims that it has changed the terms of its 2024 concession agreement. In response to an inquiry from the Namibian Tour Operators Association (TASA), the ministry confirmed that the contract awarded in February 2024 remains unchanged and non-exclusive. Ministry spokesperson Vilho Hangula emphasized that no changes or modifications had been made since the original award, thus allaying the concerns of industry representatives.

At the heart of the controversy are new rules scheduled to come into effect on May 1st. These prohibit access to Sossusvlei beyond the designated parking area for 4x4 vehicles using private vehicles. Visitors will therefore be dependent on authorized shuttle services to reach Deadvlei and Sossusvlei. Only two categories of providers are permitted to offer these services: Grow Namibia (operating under the name "About Deadvlei Sossusvlei Management") and, secondly, registered guides employed by lodges within and around the Namib-Naukluft National Park are allowed to drive their vehicles to the vleis.

Despite the restriction on self-drivers, the Ministry emphasizes that the concession remains non-exclusive. Lodges in and around the park may continue to transport their guests to the Deadvlei parking area by 4x4, as stipulated in the original agreement, the Ministry stated. Hangula also highlighted that the new measures are consistent with the signed contract and are now being fully implemented. The Ministry further cited Section 17 of Conservation Ordinance No. 4 of 1975, which grants the Minister the authority to determine who may provide services in protected areas.

However, Tasa has strongly challenged the Ministry's position, warning that the new regulations announced this week effectively establish an exclusive shuttle agreement.

In a formal letter to the Ministry, the association argued that the original tender clearly distinguished between exclusive and non-exclusive rights. The exclusivity agreement only applied to the development and operation of a campsite and a kiosk, while it was explicitly stated that the shuttle service between the 2x4 parking area and Deadvlei would remain non-exclusive. The association also referred to previous statements from the Ministry in September 2024 and December 2025, in which operators were assured that self-drivers and registered tour operators could continue to use the 4x4 parking area with suitable vehicles. These assurances, Tasa stated, reflect long-standing practice in the park.

Minister Remains Silent

“The new public notice represents a clear departure from the tender framework and the Ministry’s own public assurances,” the association stated, adding that operators had based their international bookings and logistical planning on these commitments. TASA also expressed concerns about a lack of communication, announcing that a formal request for a meeting with Tourism Minister Indileni Daniel, submitted in February, has gone unanswered. The request covered various topics, including concession management and access to key tourist sites. The association warned that the lack of consultation and communication, both locally and internationally, has led to widespread uncertainty within the tourism sector.