Namibia's spectacular wildlife, vast desert landscapes and rich cultural heritage are attracting growing numbers of Chinese travelers, as the African country has kept strengthening bilateral tourism cooperation with China.
According to the latest Tourist Statistical Report released on June 25, China ranked eighth among Namibia's overseas tourism source markets, with 9,657 tourists, accounting for 0.8 percent of the total tourist arrivals.
For the first time, China secured a spot among Namibia's top 10 overseas source markets for tourists in 2015.
Tour operators said Namibia's stunning and untouched landscapes are one of the most important factors that drive the tourism boom.
"We mainly market the Chinese market and why the Chinese come to Namibia? Because we have the most attractive, the Namib Desert, and we have the Etosha National Park and we also have the very beautiful Sandwich Harbor [where] the dunes meet the sea," said Lizzy Lee, a local tour operator.
Many Chinese visitors say they are drawn to Namibia's unique cultural environment and a wide variety of wildlife.
"I chose to travel to Namibia because of the rich cultural environment and to see the only red clay tribe in the world, which is fascinating, including the many species of wild life here, the elephants, giraffes and Feifei (baboon in English), animals that I like very much," said Sun Qiang, a tourist from China.
Namibian officials said they are expecting to strengthen tourism cooperation with China to attract more travelers from the country.
Speaking at a stakeholder engagement meeting held in Windhoek on June 26, Namibia Tourism Board (NTB) Chief Executive Officer Sebulon Chicalu emphasized China's role as "the world's most dynamic outbound tourism market".
He said the Chinese market holds strategic importance in "supporting sustainable tourism growth, investment and cultural exchange".
He also said the NTB will strive to "position Namibia as Africa's most authentic and unforgettable destination for Chinese travelers."
More Chinese travelers visit Namibia amid enhanced bilateral tourism cooperation
