Malawians Urged to Spearhead Tourism Industry Growth
In a bid to promote the tourism industry in the country, government has implored state and non-state actors, including individuals residing abroad, to step up efforts in revitalizing Malawi’s tourism industry.
Speaking during this year’s Malawi International Tourism Expo held at Bingu International Convention Centre in Lilongwe on April 25, 2024, President Lazarus Chakwera said Malawi is blessed with precious resources that can help anchor the tourism industry and make it one of the best tourist destinations in the world.
“This country is endowed with numerous natural resources that can help the country become one of the world’s largest tourist destinations. It is, therefore, everyone’s responsibility to promote Malawi internationally,” he said.
The Malawi leader further called on Malawians to wisely utilize tourism services and continue improving various infrastructures and road connectivity to ease mobility challenges.
Chakwera also disclosed that the current administration has deliberately removed taxes on some imported goods as incentives for local and foreign investors, and he has since asked the proprietors of different hotels and resorts to follow suit by scraping off strict conditions that usually jeopardize efforts to support the tourism industry growth.
On her part, Minister of Tourism Vera Kantukule said this year’s ‘Takulandilani’ Malawi International Expo will offer an opportunity for both local and international exhibitors, buyers, and tourists to share noble marketing skills.
“The event gives an opportunity for international suppliers to learn more about what Malawi offers,” she said.
However, Kantukule lamented that rising water levels in Malawi have recently jeopardized efforts to improve the tourism industry, as many hotels and resorts are still closed due to the swelling of the lake.
Kantukule has, however, assured the nation that government is monitoring the situation around Lake Malawi, adding that interested partners have joined their efforts to address the challenges associated with rising water levels around the lake.
Meanwhile, Malawi Tourism Council Executive Director Justine Dzinkambani has commended unwavering support from the corporate world towards improving the tourism industry, adding that tourism in Malawi still remains the best catalyst for social and economic development.
According to Vera Kantukule, companies such as National Bank, Rab Processors, Amaryllis Hotel, and Ekhaya Resorts, to name but a few, bankrolled this year’s Malawi International Expo, which was held under the theme ‘Ipatse Moto, Everything Tourism’.
