Stick to President’s Directive, Zacci Urges Tourism Ministry

31 May 2011

THE Zambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ZACCI) has urged the Ministry of Tourism to adhere to the directive by President Rupiah Banda on the need for Zambians to participate in investing in the tourism sector.

ZACCI president Geoffrey Sakulanda called on the Ministry of Tourism to consider offering incentives to Zambian investors in the tourism sector following President Banda’s directive that the ministry should strategise on how Zambians could be encouraged to invest in the industry.

Mr Sakulanda said in Lusaka yesterday the statement by the president should be aided with actions such as incentives designed on quota basis so that Zambians who had invested more were given more tax-free breaks to expand the industry.

He said Sun International Hotels had been a success story because of the incentives that were offered and this could extend to local investors in the sector.

Mr Sakulanda said in line with the statement by the president, the ministry should engage the immigration department to resolve complaints from tourists while the on-going infrastructure development should continue and extend to tourism spots such as Luangwa National Park and Kasaba Bay.

On Sunday, during the 10-year anniversary of Sun International Hotel in Livingstone, President Banda encouraged Zambians to venture into the tourism and hospitality sectors because the country had a massive outlay of natural wonders to offer the world.

He said there were many tourists visiting and trying to visit Zambia, which meant business opportunities were guaranteed.

The president said the minister of Tourism should find ways with stakeholders to enable more Zambians invest in the industry, especially that empowerment measures had been rolled out.

President Banda said the Government had resources in this year’s national Budget targeted at sections of society that were unable to access funds through the financial institutions.

He said the targeted groups were the youth, women and persons with disabilities and that his Government had gone as far as providing clear guidelines to all the fund managers on how the money should be managed to ensure the resources went to the intended beneficiaries.

He said in Zambia, micro, small and medium enterprises dominated sectors such as agriculture, trade, textiles, construction, manufacturing, transport, information and communication technologies and hospitality.Mr Banda urged Tourism Minister Catherine Namugala to work extra hard to promote tourism and hospitality sectors as viable investment arenas which could generate profits and create jobs.

The president said the Government was hopeful about the tourism sector and quoted the World Travel and Tourism Council that had estimated that the direct contribution of tourism to Zambia’s gross domestic product was expected to reach US$412 million this year.

That would represent about 2.3 per cent of the total gross domestic product and that at the same time, tourism was expected to directly support 22,000 jobs.

President Banda said he was confident that by the year 2015, Zambia would meet the target of attracting four million international tourists every year and that by that time, tourism was expected to contribute about eight per cent to Zambia’s gross domestic product.

Mr Banda congratulated Sun International Hotels on its achievement and the people of Livingstone for being part of history.

“This is a special occasion when all of us can look back and appreciate the long distance that Sun International has travelled since 2001 when it established business here.

“It is an occasion when we can share memories from the last 10 years and exchange ideas about the future,” President Banda said.Meanwhile, Mr Banda yesterday left Livingstone for Lusaka after a one-day working visit.

Southern Province Minister Elijah Muchima, who saw off Mr Banda, said in an interview with journalists at the airport that the president met with several tourists at Sun International Hotel and the tourists were happy to have visited Zambia.

He said the willingness by the tourists to come to Zambia was evident of the good economic policies implemented by the MMD Government.

The president, who arrived at Livingstone International Airport at 09:00 hours, left at 09:10 hours aboard a Zambia Air Force plane.

He was accompanied by House of Chiefs chairperson Chief Madzimawe of Eastern Province, Secretary to the Cabinet Joshua Kanganja, Lusaka lawyer Patrick Mvunga and some Government officials.

Mr Banda was seen off at Livingstone International Airport by Mr Muchima, Chief Mukuni, Southern Province Permanent Secretary Gladys Kristafor and Deputy Permanent Secretary Alfred Chiingi.

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