showcase their skills during this year’s youth day celebrations at
Godfrey Chitalu Stadium in kabwe
Tourism and Arts Minister Jean Kapata says the number of tourist entering Zambia will hit 1 million before the end of this year.
Ms. Kapata says the influx of tourists in 2014 was 900,000. She added that an additional 100,000 tourists were expected to visit Zambia this year.
The minister was speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka yesterday.
She attributed the number of tourists entering into the country due to co-hosting of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) by neighbouring Zimbabwe and Zambia last year.
“In 2014, the number of tourists who visited Zambia was 900,000 but we expect an increase this year beyond one million following the co-hosting of the UNWTO that spurred tourism activities in the country,” she said.
Ms. Kapata said his ministry working with the private sector though the private public partnership arrangement in order to improve the tourism sector and make it more attractive.
She said government is rehabilitating and constructing the road infrastructures leading to hotels, lodges and Guest Houses because a good road infrastructure is key to attracting foreign exchange in the country.
She added that government would soon open direct flights to Lusaka instead of connecting to other destinations when coming to Zambia.
She cited that there is no direct flight from Germany Frankfurt’s town to Lusaka and passengers are subjected to stop in other cities including other major cities hence connectivity was a big challenge
her ministry was addressing.
“Connectivity is major challenge for us as a country because we don’t have direct flights from other cities coming to Lusaka. Aeroplanes have to stop to other destinations before coming to Zambia but we’re working on that not only to woo tourists but investors too,” Ms. Kapata said.
Ms. Kapata further disclosed government is determined to open up the national airliner before the end of this year.
Ms, Kapata, who is also PF Mandevu member of Parliament, said the death of late president Michael Sata hampered the development of some major projects in the country.
On the hospitality industry, the minister said Hillton Group of Companies have expressed interest to build a hotel along the Cairo Road in Lusaka at the refurbished Society House.
She added that land has been secured near the Victoria Falls in Livingstone and government is inviting an investor to build a big hotel of international standard/s.
“Land is available at the Victoria Falls in Livingstone and we’re looking for an investor to construct a very big hotel there,” she said.
On Zambia wildlife Authority (ZAWA) the minister disclosed that it would be mainstreamed into a department under her ministry.
“I won’t appoint Board at ZAWA but it is slowly being transformed into a department under my ministry,” She said.
Zambia is too expensive you think foreigners sh!t dollars and euros!
When it comes to the development of its tourism industry, Zambia has been moving at the speed of a tortoise whose feet is riddled with arthritis.
Naturally, it will grow; you have introduced a joint visa with Zimbabwe and you have scrapped the Zambian visa requirement for Chinese visitors without reciprocation from China! What had you expected?
Madam Minister, this is a bad year for tourism in Zambia. Ask Tour Operators on the ground they will tell you that figures are very low at most camps compared with 2014 numbers. They are likely to fall short of their projections. Ebola phobia has definitely hit us badly coupled with the weakening of GBP/Euro against the USD. Tourism promotion should not be centered around Victoria Falls. Open up the northern circuit, we can grow domestic tourism by Zambians holidaying on Tanganyika beaches than flying to Zanzibar nor Durban. In terms of flights Zambia doesn’t need to own an airline but build modern airports which will be accessible by major airline companies. KK International is a sorry site.
Tunisia 2014 visitors 6,000,000 ………., check figures for Kenya, Tanzania, Egypt, Botswana, South Africa, Nambia and even Zimbabwe you will weap, but hey let me not be a wet blanket lets celebrate a measly 1,000,000.
Scrapp visafees for all tourist and you will see an increase of tourists,not only Chinese.
My brother, visa fees amount to nothing for a tourist who is spending USD$40,000 for his safari. I wouldn’t advocate for the removal of visa fees. $50 for single entry is nothing!!
National airline is welcome. You can’t have direct flights without a national airline. For hotels announce when work has started. Too many announcements in the past with no substance. Clean up cities and stop street vending because tourists want to walk on clean streets. Then you won’t have problem with tourist numbers.