Minister of Tourism Rodney Sikumba says Zambia’s tourism sector is firmly on an upward growth trajectory, having recorded a strong recovery between 2021 and 2025, with clear strategies in place to transform the industry into a multi-billion-dollar contributor to the national economy.
Speaking during a media breakfast press briefing in Lusaka, Mr Sikumba said government has deliberately repositioned the sector from traditional tourism to the broader travel and tourism model, in recognition of its extensive economic linkages.
“Tourism is no longer just about hotel beds and park entry fees. It contributes to GDP, employment, retail, transport, agriculture and services and every visitor who comes to Zambia contributes across the economy,” Mr Sikumba said.
He disclosed that international tourist arrivals reached 2.2 million in 2025, representing a four percent increase from the previous year.
Mr Sikumba further revealed that the tourism sector supported approximately 159,000 jobs in 2023, with projections, indicating an increase to 164,000 jobs by 2025, positioning tourism among Zambia’s fastest-growing employers.
Outlining key priorities for 2026, the Minister said government aims to increase international arrivals to 2.5 million, grow domestic tourism by 20 percent, expand air connectivity and route development, strengthen legal and regulatory reforms and enhance community participation in tourism development.
“Tourism is for the benefit of Zambians. When the sector grows, jobs are created, communities benefit and the economy expands,” he said.
Meanwhile, Minister of Labour and Social Security Brenda Tambatamba reaffirmed government’s commitment to supporting the tourism sector through improved governance, labour law reforms and enhanced worker protection.
Ms Tambatamba described tourism as one of Zambia’s key economic priority sectors under the Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU), alongside mining, agriculture and energy.
She emphasised that government’s engagement with the private sector is aimed at strengthening systems rather than policing businesses.
“When we come to your ministry, your sector or your enterprise, we are not coming to police you. We are coming for governance improvement,” she said.
Can we have numbers instead of statements of intent? How for example will connectivity be improved by “government intentions”? And what are the numbers indicating growth in terms of revenue and tax, not just kuuza alendo maningi abwela sure? Perhaps missing some data in the article anyway, it’s a very important sector and a promising trend, especially when copper gets finished