SWAKOPMUND, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- Namibia's historic coastal town of Swakopmund celebrated its 130th anniversary of founding Thursday, where an official called on its inhabitants to become tourism ambassadors.

The coastal town will be hosting festivities including the festival of lights, street markets, a sports festival, a music festival, and an art exhibition over the entire month of August, in recognition of the founding of the coastal town.

Tourists should receive the welcoming friendliness that the town's residents are renowned for now that COVID-19 travel restrictions have been lifted, said Erongo regional governor Neville Andre during his keynote address.

"Let us show them our beautiful natural attractions and let them feel our hospitality," he said, stressing that crime paints a bad image to tourists and prevents them from contributing to the overall economic growth of the region, and subsequently the country.

The town has grown into a tourism hub with historic buildings like the lighthouse, the jetty, and many others.