Minister Pushes for Investment in Tourism

The government has announced that visa fees are set to be waived for tourists coming from the UK, USA, Canada, Norway, Australia, China, Japan, South Korea and the EU.

The change has been made in an attempt to grow Zambia’s tourism industry. Over one million tourists visited Zambia in 2018, attracted by the country’s wildlife, and other natural attractions such as Lake Tanganyika and the Victoria Falls. But the Minister of Tourism is keen to grow the sector.

Speaking recently at the ongoing Western Province Tourism, Trade and Investment Expo, Rodney Sikumba, the Minister for Tourism, said he wished to extend an “olive branch to would be investors as there are a number of places which need investment.”

The government is in the process of securing a $100 million USD loan in order to fund infrastructural projects. The World Bank loan is expected to help better connect the country and improve aspects of Zambia’s famous national parks.

The New Dawn administration is constructing a bridge across the Luanginga river, for example, in order to improve communications in the country and thus encourage tourists to stay for longer and explore sites beyond the well-recognised hotspots like Victoria Falls.

While Zambia has some of the most beautiful rivers in the world, including the Zambezi, establishing proper communications channels is vital if tourists want to be able to explore all parts of the country.

Image: Sean Peter via Unsplash