them at the new international terminal building in Livingstone
ZAMBIA witnessed a surge in French tourist arrivals in 2014 by 27.37 per cent, First Secretary for Tourism at the Zambian Embassy in France Percy Ngwira has said.
Mr Ngwira, who is also Zambia’s Liaison Officer to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), said the increase had been attributed to the strategic marketing efforts by the Zambian Embassy in Paris working with the Zambia Tourism Board (ZTB).
In a press statement released from France yesterday, Mr Ngwira said the prospects for 2015 were already looking good.
He said the Zambian Embassy in Paris recorded a 50 per cent increase in the number of visitors who travelled to Zambia in the month of January 2015 as compared to the same month in 2014.
In 2013, Zambia recorded a total of 7,151 visitors from France while as at the end of 2014 the visitor numbers increased to 9,108.
Mr Ngwira also noted that though domestic tourism remained the most popular among the French taking up about 70 per cent of the French tours, Africa receive the largest share of the outbound French tourists with North Africa getting the lion’s share.
“But in the past recent time, French tourists are seeking for new destinations with a different offering and Zambia is becoming one of the top destinations on the list of French tourists.
“The French are targeting Zambia because of the peace and tranquillity that the country continues to enjoy more than 50 years after getting independence from Britain,” he said.
The other major factors pulling French tourists to Zambia include the famous Victoria Falls described as the ‘SMOKE THAT THUNDERS.
Further, the African safaris in the unspoiled wild boasting of 19 national parks with South Luangwa National Park been the favourite and receiving more wild safaris lovers.
The pure, rich culture and tradition of Zambia is another kept secret that is drawing more French tourists to Zambia.
In addition, Zambia’s central location is another advantage in terms of connectivity.
“With these good signs the Zambian Embassy in Paris in collaboration with Zambia Tourism Board seeks to further increase marketing and Public Relations (PR) activities in France to make sure the French know what Zambia has to offer in terms of tourism.
One initiative the Embassy will pursue this year is the ‘VISIT ZAMBIA CAMPAIGN 2016’ targeting the French. In this marketing effort, 2016 will be an exceptional year for the French tourists to visit Zambia,” Mr Ngwira said.
He said the Zambian Embassy in Paris in collaboration with Zambia Tourism Board would seek to work with the private sector on how best to promote this initiative.
France with a population over 65 million inhabitants is a very attractive market.
For as long as we don’t have a national carrier, the numbers will still be low. even Rwanda is now gonna fly into KK airport while we Zambians are still sleeping and arguing that it is expensive to run an airline.
I think most of those are sex-tourists..
This is embarrassing, you are talking of 9000+ visitors. livingstone must be transformed into a true tourism town of international standard
Embarrassingly low numbers and yet the man is boasting. Sad really
Another big stumble is Most Zambia consider French as a Kasai language henceforth most of the french tourist will feel uneasy to mingle with people who cannot utter simple phrases like: bonjour, comment ca va? for fear of being labelled Congolese!
Another big stumble is Most Zambians consider French as a Kasai language henceforth most of the french tourists will feel uneasy to mingle with people who cannot utter simple phrases like: bonjour, comment ca va? for fear of being labelled Congolese!
Ha ha ha, very clever indeed!