More than 15 art and craft vendors travelled to Walvis Bay from Kunene, Otjozondjupa, northern and Kavango regions to sell their products to tourists on the Queen Mary 2 passenger vessel.

The art and craft vendors are mostly women who support their families through the sale of souvenirs to tourists.

Rita Kaveto who is originally from Kavango East Region but sells her products at Okahandja told nbc News that the arrival of vessels supports their businesses sometimes.

"Queen Mary is now here and we have not really received many customers but we are still very happy that over 2 000 tourists have visited Walvis Bay."

Another vendor Hilaria Shilimetindi from the northern regions echoed similar sentiments. 

"We had big problems during the COVID-19 pandemic era, that's why we are so thankful today that Queen Mary came to our port. There have also been other vessels that arrived since November. I was in the north at that time but I came to join my colleagues when I heard about the vessels. So business is going well and we thank God for his mercy."

The vendors have however appealed to the Government to create a much better market for them to display and sell their products to tourists.

The vendors say with a high unemployment rate in the country it is important for them to be successful so that they employ others or motivate Namibians to open up similar businesses.