ZAMBIA: US$ 2.4 Million Spent On Marketing Tourism Sector On International Market

GOVERNMENT is currently spending US$ 2.4 million to market Zambia’s tourism sector on the international market.

Tourism and Arts Permanent Secretary Stephen Mwansa said yesterday that the money which the country spend to market tourism sector on international market was less than US$ 13 million which Zimbabwe is spending.

Mr Mwansa said South Africa is spending US$ 180 million to market tourism sector on the international market.

He said that the Government was doing a lot in ensuring that the Zambia’s tourism sector was marketed internationally.

He said Government had also done a lot to market Mfuwe which host the famous Luangwa South National Park to international market.

“We are currently spending US$ 2.4 million to market Zambia’s tourism on international market, Zimbabwe is spending US$ 13 million and South Africa is spending US$ 180 million.So as the Government we are doing a lot,”Mr Mwansa said.

He said there was need for the private sectors in the country to appreciate the role which the Government was doing in marketing the country’s tourism to international market.

Hotel Catering Tourism and Allied Workers Union of Zambia Regional Secretary Zephaniah Kaleya accused the Government of not doing enough to market Zambia’s tourism sector on the international market.

Mr Kaleya said that areas like Mfuwe which have so much to offer in terms of tourism were not being given enough publicity stating that marketing of Zambia’s tourism has concentrated on Livingstone.

He said that while Zambia records an annual figure of 1 million tourists visiting the country, other countries record such figures within four months.

He said that it was sad that Government was failing to take advantage of confusion that has rocked some countries in West Africa to woo tourists to Zambia, which was a peaceful country.

Mr Kaleya has challenged foreign tour operators in Mfuwe to ensure that they use local radio stations to market themselves unlike only marketing their business in their countries of origin.