WINDHOEK, March 20 (Xinhua) -- The tourism industry in Namibia has seen a decline of more than 30 percent in bookings compared to last year, the CEO of the Hospitality Association of Namibia (HAN) Gitta Petzold said Friday.

"The usually flourishing tourism industry in Namibia has taken the hardest knock so far during the coronavirus pandemic. Major hotels and accommodation facilities have reported the largest volumes of cancellations that they have ever seen before," Petzold said.

Petzold said there are numerous postponements that has been placed on travel plans and that this is bad for Namibia.

"This means that the tourism business cash flow has decreased drastically and will continue to do so. During the outbreak it is difficult to survive in this business. It is very challenging. The situation for Namibia is expected to go from bad to worse," the CEO said.

Petzold said according to the research done by HAN many people who travel do fear being quarantined there on arrival.

"Currently screening is done at Hosea Kutako International Airport, Eros and the Walvis Bay Airports and the Port of Walvis Bay, with the ministry extending control services to the border posts," Petzold added.

So far Namibia has officially reported three confirmed cases of coronavirus. Enditem

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