Windhoek Urged to Reinvent Urban Tourism Offering as Visitors Seek Deeper City Experiences
Namibia's capital, Windhoek, is under the spotlight as industry voices call for a stronger urban tourism proposition. According to Gitta Paetzold, Chief Executive of the Hospitality Association of Namibia (HAN), a growing number of international visitors describe the city as lacking excitement, pointing to a shortage of events and poorly narrated stories behind existing museums and heritage buildings. Her comments open an important conversation for African hospitality professionals about how capital cities across the continent can package their urban experiences more compellingly.
HAN represents the entire hospitality value chain, from hotels and guest houses to lodges, rest camps, restaurants, conference venues and catering services. Paetzold notes that although Windhoek serves as the primary gateway to Namibia's dramatic landscapes, many travellers arriving at Hosea Kutako International Airport quickly move on to other destinations. Some explore the city independently, while a growing number of tour operators offer curated experiences including guided walks and cycling tours through the vibrant township of Katutura.
The most frequented sights in the central district include the historic Christuskirche Lutheran church, dating back to 1910, along with the Independence Memorial Museum and Parliament Gardens. Yet industry stakeholders believe these landmarks need richer storytelling to fully engage visitors who now expect immersive, meaningful encounters rather than passive sightseeing.
Anna Mafwila, Director of Katutours, a company running guided cycling tours through Katutura, believes the answer lies in developing organised community spaces such as flea markets in the townships. Such venues would allow tourists to purchase authentic souvenirs, interact with residents, and ease the pressure on the congested city centre. Katutours is currently collaborating with the City of Windhoek to identify additional cultural highlights worth showcasing to international guests.
Responding on behalf of municipal authorities, City spokesperson Lydia Amutenya described HAN's remarks as constructive rather than critical. She insists Windhoek offers a broad palette of cultural, historical, culinary and lifestyle assets, but concedes there is room to package and market these experiences more effectively to encourage longer visitor stays. The municipality is actively investing in tourism product development, heritage programmes, public art, festivals and destination marketing, while acknowledging that stronger collaboration is needed between the city, hospitality operators, tour companies, the Namibia Tourism Board and local communities.
Beyond the city core, visitors are drawn to the National Botanic Gardens, the Avis Dam Nature Reserve for birdwatching, and the Daan Viljoen Game Park. In the Khomas region alone, roughly 140 registered tour operators offer township experiences, taking guests to sample the legendary kapana grilled meat at the Oshetu market, popularly known as Single Quarters, and to witness everyday life in informal settlements.
Mafwila notes that her mostly European clientele are captivated by the ordinary aspects of Namibian life, from children playing football on dusty street corners to sipping oshikundu, a traditional non-alcoholic drink, and enjoying fat cakes shared with community members. She emphasises the quality of Namibian beef, rangeland raised with minimal chemicals, as a genuine attraction for meat-loving visitors.
Nelson Kangootui, Director of Orupuka Tours Investment and a guide with 25 years of experience, points out that German tourists remain loyal repeat visitors, while first-timers find Windhoek fascinating when guided to lesser-known spots such as Heroes' Acre, Oshikaindu in Wanaheda for cooked goat heads, and the former residence of founding president Sam Nujoma. His main challenge, however, is securing clients, which relies heavily on networks and referrals.
Meanwhile, Gondwana Collection Namibia blends urban and safari experiences by taking guests to the Weinberg in Windhoek for panoramic city views and to Okapuka Safari Lodge just outside the capital for wildlife encounters. For African tourism professionals, Windhoek's evolving story offers a valuable lesson: authenticity, storytelling and community-driven experiences are becoming the true currency of urban destinations in the years ahead.
