By Koviao Matuzee
Namibia’s tourism industry is facing a renewed compliance push as the Namibia Tourism Board (NTB) steps up efforts to recover outstanding tourism levy payments and ensure accommodation establishments meet their legal obligations.
NTB is urging registered accommodation establishments with unpaid levies, missing returns or unresolved account discrepancies to act immediately, warning that continued non-compliance could result in additional charges, prosecution and, in some cases, the withdrawal of registration.
The board’s message is aimed at an industry that relies heavily on tourism for jobs, business activity and the promotion of Namibia as a destination.
Under the tourism levy requirements, registered accommodation establishments are responsible for collecting the prescribed levy from guests and remitting it to the NTB within the stipulated period following each two-month levy cycle.
However, the board says some operators are falling short, either by delaying payments, failing to submit levy returns or neglecting to verify whether previous payments have been correctly allocated to their accounts.
According to NTB, the issue is bigger than unpaid money.
The board says accurate compliance is essential to maintaining reliable tourism statistics, ensuring regulatory accountability and creating a level playing field for businesses that consistently meet their obligations.
Through its “Know NTB: Register. Comply. Thrive.” campaign, the board is intensifying awareness, account verification and monitoring across the sector, while encouraging operators to voluntarily regularize their affairs before enforcement becomes necessary.
The financial consequences of falling behind can quickly add up. Late levy payments attract an additional charge of five percent of the outstanding amount for every month, or part of a month, that the debt remains unpaid.
NTB has also warned that where outstanding levies and additional charges remain unpaid for 14 days after a written demand, the matter may constitute an offence and could lead to prosecution.
To operators, the warning is therefore not simply about paying what is owed, but about ensuring their records are accurate, and their businesses remain in good standing.
NTB is also encouraging establishments with outstanding accounts to contact the board rather than wait for enforcement action.
Operators are reminded to use their official NTB registration number as the beneficiary reference when making levy payments.
As the country continues to position tourism as a driver of sustainable economic development, NTB says compliance remains a shared responsibility, one that protects the integrity of the industry while ensuring fairness for businesses that do the right thing.
