The Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Indileni Daniel, revealed that the tourism sector has created more than 57,000 jobs over the past five years.

This makes up about 7.5% of total employment in the country.

Daniel was responding to Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) MP Roderick Likando, who questioned whether the sector is contributing to youth employment.

She says over 14,000 youth were employed through tourism, which is 5.8% of 57,000 total employment.

Daniel also pointed out efforts being made to equip youth with skills to benefit from tourism.

"The ministry provides what you call skills upgrade training. And SMEs, youth, entrepreneurs, financial management, and tourism product development. And as of now, like this 2025, 2026, we have already trained 129 SMEs, and those trainings are still continuing."

The minister also highlighted strategies put in place to ensure that the tourism sector becomes a key engine for youth job creation, skill development, and entrepreneurship.

"We are about to finalise, or maybe just the final touches that are spending when it comes to our national special tourism master plan, which will allow the establishment of a tourism transformation fund with the aim to support youth with relevant skills and capacities to take up opportunities in the sector, as well as to support youth tourism enterprises' development across all 14 regions in Namibia."

She further revealed that the ministry has provided support to 99 SMEs to participate at selected regional and international trade fairs and exhibitions during the 2025/2026 financial year, of which 60% were youth-owned.