Chinese Tour Operators Visit Malawi
Seven key influential Chinese Tour operators from Beijing, Shanghai and Nanjing were hosted by The Malawi Department of Tourism from November 30 to December 9, 2016.
The customized familiarization trip, underwritten and promoted by Ethiopian Airlines and Elite Travel Connection, focused on
highlighting the unique attributes and attractions of Malawi as a new and pristine destination as a stimulus to packaging high quality Malawi tour packages to China’s rapidly expanding outbound African tourism market.
The Chinese professionals visited the beautiful sceneries and distinctive topographies in Lilongwe, Blantyre, Salima, Mumbo Island, Mangochi, Zomba, Satemwa Tea Estate, Majete Wildlife Game Reserve and Lake Malawi National Park where they appreciated the wildlife diversity that included hippos, elephants, nyala, wild beasts, warthogs, impala, baboon etc.
The First Lady of the Republic of Malawi, Madam Gertrude Mutharika, hosted the group to a dinner at Sanjika Palace in Blantyre. She called on the Chinese tour operators to market “The Warm Heart of Africa” to China and beyond as tourism has the potential to develop Malawi economically. Currently, tourism contributes about 5% to the national GDP and provides about 4% of jobs.
During the tour, the Malawi Department of Tourism organized a seminar at Malawi Institute of Tourism, drawing a variety of representatives of reputed tour operators in the country, such as Sunrise Ground Tours, Jumbo Africa, Polaris Travel Group as well as hotels and members of the press media.
The seminar provided an opportunity for exchange of key information and reports by both Chinese and Malawian representatives, and the introduction of company profiles by the Malawian peers detailing the diversified products and support services on offer to Chinese tourism. The function served as a platform for the Chinese and Malawian tourism professionals to engage and establish business and strategic partnerships.
“Currently, tourism contributes about 5% to the national GDP and provides about 4% of jobs”.
