MINISTER of Tourism and Arts Jean Kapata says Zambia’s hosting of the UNWTO general assembly in 2013 has raised the country’s tourism sector profile.
Addressing delegates at the official opening ceremony of the 21st Session of the UNWTO General Assembly in Medellin, Colombia last night, the minister said tourism is now a key lever of economic diversification and deeper regional integration.
She said that the UNIVISA pilot project, initiated by Zambia and Zimbabwe soon after the 2013 General Assembly, has generated increased tourist arrivals to the Victoria Falls and has enhanced bilateral cooperation between Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Ms Kapata , however, noted that many tourist destinations around the world continued to face numerous challenges related to visa facilitation, air connectivity, security threats caused by instability and terrorism, disease outbreaks such as Ebola while massive taxation of the tourism sector (in some countries) continue to affect destination competitiveness.
She called upon all member countries to create a conducive environment that will facilitate steady growth of the tourism sector.
The minister further called for effective participation by all member countries attending the Medellin General Assembly as their respective nations are expecting tangible results from the deliberations.
Ms Kapata said if well harnessed, tourism has the potential to contribute significantly to economic growth, community development and job creation in addition to consolidating partnerships among Governments, private sector and civil society.
She thanked Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and the people of that country for the warm welcome and the genuine hospitality of the Colombian people.
The minister said Zambia is particularly delighted because Colombia’s bid to host the 2015 General Assembly was won on Zambian soil.
This is the second time that Colombia is hosting the tourism indaba, having hosted it earlier in 2007 in the city of Cartagena.
Zambia was on Saturday elected to the Executive Council of the UNWTO amid waves of joy and jubilation as this paves the way for the country to have direct representation on the world body and add its voice to the policy direction of the tourism industry.
The Zambian delegation is headed by Ms Kapata and includes permanent secretary Stephen Mwansa, director of tourism Albert Mushanga, ZTB managing director Felix Chaila, Zambian ambassador to France Humphrey Chibanda and Zambia Wildlife Authority manager commercial services Austin Mwakifwamba.
The 21st edition of the UNWTO General Assembly runs from 12 to 17th September in the Colombian city of Medellin.
Zambia and Zimbabwe co-hosted the 20th edition of the tourism showpiece in 2013 at the Victoria Falls.
Mu government musuma! Ba Jean Kapata balipwile notumasya twalingile nomba she looks chubby
Just remove street vendors and clean up our towns and cities and tourists will come
You chaps at ZTB are just wasting tax payers money and are misrepresenting Zambia. I wonder what you do at the Ministry & ZTB because I personally don’t see any improvement in tourism. All you know best is travelling, staying in expensive hotels and getting allowances on top of that. You must seen to be working than travelling. You chaps have a complex, you think Livingstone is Zambia and when preaching tourism all you talk about is Victoria Falls. You are very useless, yes I mean what I say, uzilesi. If not for private sector, tourism in Zambia is dead.
“She said that the UNIVISA pilot project, initiated by Zambia and Zimbabwe soon after the 2013 General Assembly, has generated increased tourist arrivals to the Victoria Falls ….” This project has benefited Zimbabwe more that Zambia!!!!!!!!
You don’t know what you talking about……………just keep quiet!
This is all repetition and nothing new. The problem with Jean Kapata is the lack of education and vomiting what she is told to say. Statistics show a decline in the number of tourists arrivals due to the recent lifting of the hunting ban. People with disposable income and those in the grey markets (rich and retired), wish not to support countries supporting Trophy Hunting. In North America not a lot of people know of Zambia’s existence. If she has proof, both qualitative and quantitative is when we will believe. A serious waste of tax payers money and the government needs to hire someone else in this position.