The Impact of Tourism Development on the Local Communities in Namibia

This article aims to identify and explain the current challenges being faced due to the impact of tourism development on the local communities in Namibia. The Foreign-exchange earnings and balance of payment benefits derived from tourism receipts are considered a double-edged sword, meaning tourism can have both negative and positive impacts on the local communities. The money spent by tourists in the Namibian economy is significant towards local communities’ development. This desk research found an appalling concern for many developing countries to over-depend on tourism to pursue economic growth and development. It is argued that this serves as a demonstration of how tourism development elevates the prices related to real estate and general costs of goods and services, which eventually leads to inflation. Finally, we assume that self-efficacy positively influences the involvement of local communities in tourism development which has positive implications on their quality of life regarding social and economic bearings. Additionally, local communities should be more supportive and instead have a positive attitude towards tourism development, thus resulting in a more profitable tourism sector. In concluding, the authors viewed that the government should also ensure that the local people are well informed about the importance of tourism, how it impacts economic development and the realization of a sustainable tourism strategy for Namibia.