Zambia
to salvage economy through tourism
…commits
to UNWTO
Zambia’s Tourism and arts minister, Honourable
Charles Rommel Banda has pledged government commitment towards making the
tourism sector a key contributor to the country’s economy, poverty alleviation
and job creation.
Hon. Banda disclosed this during a high level
meeting with United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Secretary
General Dr. Taleb Rifai in the resort city of Luxor in Egypt on Sunday. The
Hon. Minister is in Egypt attending UNWTO 104th Executive
Council meeting.
During the meeting the Minister briefed the
Secretary-General on the re-election of His Excellency President Edgar Chagwa
Lungu and his announcement made to transform the Ministry of Tourism and Arts
from a social to an economic Ministry.
The Minister informed the Secretary-General that it
was within the ruling Patriotic Front Party’s development agenda as announced
during the opening of the current sitting of Parliament by President Lungu to
develop the tourism sector and use it as a means of poverty alleviation and
wealth creation.
“Our aim to increase the tourism sector’s
contribution from the current four (4) percent contribution to the Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) to about eight (8) percent. The tourism sector can play
a big role in employment creation, poverty alleviation and economic
development,” Hon Banda said.
The Minister also briefed the UNWTO chief on the
tourism policy changes that the government is implementing.
Zambia’s
new tourism policy, the revision of the Tourism and Hospitality Act No. 23 of
2007 and the Zambia Tourism Board Act No. 24 of 2007, and that the two Acts had
been merged to form the new Tourism and Hospitality Act No. 13 of 2015. The new
Act had brought about a new marketing wing with additional functions of
licensing, inspection, grading and classification of tourism enterprises,
functions previously performed by the Department of Tourism in the Ministry of
Tourism and Arts.
The Hon.
Minister also briefed the Secretary-General on the transformation of the former
Zambia Wild Life Authority into the Department of National Parks and Wildlife
in the Ministry of Tourism and Arts. This change is meant to ensure that the
institutions that looks after Zambia’s wildlife operates efficiently and
effectively. This has been done by Parliament passing the Zambia Wildlife Act
No. 14 of 2015 and further disclosed that the National Parks and Wildlife
policy of 1998 was also under review.
The Hon.
Minister also thanked the Secretary General for his unwavering support to
Zambia especially the technical and financial support received through the
UNWTO/ST-EP initiative.
And
Secretary-General Dr. Rifai has congratulated Hon. Banda on his appointment to
the tourism portfolio and reiterated his continued support for Zambia.
The UNWTO
chief hailed the policy direction Zambia had taken and supported the move as an
effective approach in addressing challenges of unemployment and poverty
alleviation.
“Hon.
Minister, a lot of countries have depended on raw materials and mineral exports
which eventually run out, we welcome the policy your government has taken
because tourism lasts forever as long as you take care of it.” Said Dr. Rifai.
Hon. Banda’s delegation to the 104th Executive Council
meeting includes his Permanent Secretary, Mr. Stephen Mwansa, Deputy Permanent
Representative to UNWTO, Mr. Joe Kaunda from the Zambian Mission in Paris
France and two technical officers from the Ministry and the Zambia Mission in
Paris France.
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