In today's Namibian newspaper, the Namibian Tourism Board placed a large advertisement to congratulate the Right Honourable Prime Minister Nahas Angula on his 66th birthday. It is very common for companies to place ads in the paper wishing "Happy Birthday" to politicians. I guess if you want to receive tenders (contracts) in the coming year from the government, it pays to grease their palms. When President Pohamba recently had his birthday, there was an entire separate 20-page section of the paper filled with ads and small articles about the President.
Many of the ads have misspellings, as English is the official language but only spoken at home by 2% of the population.
Anyway, the Namibian Tourism Board's ad has a wonderful photo of the Prime Minister, placed on a background of a red sand dune and a quiver tree--both symbols of Namibia tourism. It is a beautiful ad. But, the header of the ad, above the birthday wish, reads:
"Tourism unravels you [sic] spiritual wellbeing"
Unravels?! This now explains the reason for the poor service at Namibia Wildlife Resorts. And, it makes one think of other possible slogans for Namibia's tourist industry:
1. Namibia: for those who think they've got life by the tail
2. Namibia: come here to fall apart
3. Namibia: no better place for your nervous breakdown
4. Namibia: get lost in our deserts and you'll never find your way home
5. Namibia: we can destroy all of your self esteem
6. Namibia: a land of broken hearts
7. Namibia: you arrive whole and leave unravelled
8. Namibia: an insurmountable challenge around every corner
9. Namibia: come for the scenery, stay for the psychological treatment
10. Namibia: if France didn't break you, we can
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