Sikumba Says Tourism Sector Thriving

Tourism Minister Rodney Sikumba said the UNPD government has made significant progress to enhance Zambia's tourism sector over the past two and a half years. According to Sikumba, this progress has played a crucial role in the country's economic growth, with the nation’s GDP increasing from K559.5 billion in 2021 to K825.9 billion.

Sikumba reported that tourist arrivals have seen a notable rise, from 1.2 million in 2019 to 1.38 million international tourists by the end of 2023. The government aims to further increase this number to two million by the end of the current year.

To improve accessibility to Zambia's national parks, the Ministry of Tourism has undertaken significant infrastructure development. Nearly 3000 km of loop roads and an additional 3000 km of trunk roads within the 20 national parks have been constructed.

In addition to infrastructure development, the Ministry of Tourism has been promoting Zambian culture. Over the past two years, the ministry has supported approximately 100 traditional ceremonies as part of its efforts to preserve the country's cultural heritage.