Editing Economy of Namibia (section)

===Tourism===
[[File:Equus burchelli 4.jpg|thumb|An example of Namibian wildlife, the [[plains zebra]], one focus of tourism]]
{{Main|Tourism in Namibia}}
[[File:Etosha elefant.jpg|thumb|Elephant in the [[Etosha National Park]]]]
[[File:Namibia from Linyanti River.jpg|thumb|A view into Namibia from the border of [[Botswana]], on the [[Linyanti River]]]]

Tourism is a major contributor (14.5%) to Namibia's GDP, creating tens of thousands of jobs (18.2% of all employment) directly or indirectly and servicing over a million tourists per annum.<ref>{{cite web|title=A Framework/Model to Benchmark Tourism GDP in South Africa |publisher=Pan African Research & Investment Services |page=34 |date=March 2010 |url=http://www.southafrica.net/sat/action/media/downloadFile?media_fileid=29571 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100718143151/http://www.southafrica.net/sat/action/media/downloadFile?media_fileid=29571 |archive-date=18 July 2010 }}</ref> The country is among the prime destinations in Africa and is known for [[ecotourism]] which features [[Wildlife of Namibia|Namibia's extensive wildlife]].<ref name=goodshape>{{cite news |title=Tourism in good shape – Minister |last=Hartman |first=Adam |newspaper=[[The Namibian]] |date=30 September 2009 |url=http://www.namibian.com.na/index.php?id=28&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=51487&no_cache=1}}</ref>

There are many lodges and reserves to accommodate eco-tourists. Sport Hunting is also a large, and growing component of the Namibian economy, accounting for 14% of total tourism in the year 2000, or $19.6&nbsp;million US dollars, with Namibia boasting numerous species sought after by international sport hunters.<ref name=Humavindu>{{cite journal|author1=Humavindu, Michael N. |author2=Barnes, Jonothan I |title= Trophy Hunting in the Namibian Economy: An Assessment. Environmental Economics Unit, Directorate of Environmental Affairs, Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Namibia|journal= South African Journal of Wildlife Research |volume=33|issue=2|pages= 65–70 |date=October 2003}}</ref> In addition, extreme sports such as [[sandboarding]], [[skydiving]] and 4x4ing have become popular, and many cities have companies that provide tours. The most visited places include the [[Caprivi Strip]], [[Fish River Canyon]], [[Sossusvlei]], the [[Skeleton Coast]] Park, [[Sesriem]], [[Etosha Pan]] and the coastal towns of [[Swakopmund]], [[Walvis Bay]] and [[Lüderitz]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.namibiatourism.com.na/namibia-top-attractions/ |title=Namibia top tourist destinations |publisher=Namibiatourism.com.na |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227102320/http://www.namibiatourism.com.na/namibia-top-attractions/ |archive-date=27 December 2016 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

In 2020, it would be estimated that tourism would bring is $26 million [[Namibian dollar]]s however due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Namibia saw a reduction of almost 90% in tourism. In the third quarter of 2021, there was an increase in tourism, however, it is estimated that it will be until 2023 when tourism returns to some kind of normality.