Tourism Radio Namibia

A host of electronic tour guides have just arrived in Windhoek, courtesy of a most innovative product for visitors that has very recently been introduced into the burgeoning tourism market here in Namibia. Tourism Radio Namibia (TRN) is a new location based radio station that should increase self-drive travellers' enjoyment, awareness and safety during their visit to the country. Like all the best ideas, TRN's operational system is at once both technically clever but engagingly simple; it uses GPS technology to first map general area information and then more detailed facts about specific points of interest. The latter broadcasts will cover such salient items as road hazards, route directions, local tourism attractions and landmarks, sites of historical importance and even relevant service providers.
Entrepreneur JC Nel, together with his partners RD Norval and PC & M Pretorious, has masterminded the rollout and told me: "The reception from the car hire companies has been great, the feedback from early tourist users most encouraging. Thankfully one of our first challenges has simply been trying to maintain supplies of units to match the demand! In setting up the programming for TRN I personally drove over 80,000 kms all over Namibia mapping out all the relevant GPS locations and more, so hopefully there won't be too many early glitches. But we're going to be constantly updating and monitoring the information provided. It's an exciting product."
It works like this; holidaymakers arrive at Windhoek's Hosea Kutako International Airport, and either hire a self-drive vehicle, or collect their pre-booked car. They can then hire a TRN unit themselves direct from the outlet at the airport or just confirm to the car hire company that they want to pay for a TRN unit. Tourists can also visit TRN premises in the capital Windhoek itself. This little box of tricks, already dubbed 'The virtual tour guide' simply fastens to the inside of the windscreen by way of three suction caps and is powered by a lead inserted into the cigarette lighter / 12 volt output socket. Tune the radio onto 91,5 FM frequency and let the broadcast begin! Apart from the information described above, there will be some interesting background programme content too; facts and entertainment on all things Namibian such as history, peoples and culture, geology, nature, flora and fauna, history, the climate, the economy, the arts, agriculture, food, local activities and attractions and much more. Useful hints and tips detailing such widespread topics as off-road driving, photography, bird-watching, hiking, camping and a plethora of other subjects will be imparted too. Interspersed between all this factual data and the vital Intellipoint information broadcasts will be a wide-ranging selection of relaxing music and melodies, local, regional and international.

At a cost of just N$ 75,00 per day, these uni-que TRN units will surely prove to be worth their weight in gold, ensuring that tourists derive maximum pleasure from their visit, whilst enjoying higher levels of safety too; all thanks to the indispensable supply of information broadcast by this knowledgeable virtual travel companion accompanying their trip. And already JC Nel, encouraged by the positive reaction of Namibian car hire companies and established players in the tourism marketplace, is looking to expand the business into other Southern African countries too.

Neil Digby-ClarkeFACT FILE
Tourism Radio Namibia is situated at Hosea Kutako International Airport and at 20, Copper Street, Prosperita, Windhoek. PO Box 9379 Windhoek.
Contact: JC Nel Tel: +264 81 124 6958 Fax: +264 61 269133
E-Mail: [email protected] Website: www.tourismradionam.com
TRN units are hired out at a cost of N$ 75,00 per day.