ZTA issues less trading licences than expected
THE Zambia Tourism Agency has this year issued about 700 trading licences for tourism enterprises, chief executive officer, (CEO), Felix Chaila has disclosed. Mr. Chaila said they have issued about 700 licences against their 2017 target which is to give out about 1, 000 licences, adding that there is still potential for them to reach the target by the end of the year. He said the targeted number of licences would be attained through an inspection process which was underway and will compel tourism entities to apply for licenses. Speaking in an interview with the Daily Nation, Mr. Chaila said he was hopeful that there would be a rush to get licences at the last minute due to the inspections they are carrying out “We have given out under 700 licences but we are well on the way because we still have some licences to consider and I think before the year ends we are going to have at least between 850 to about 1,000 being registered,” Mr. Chaila said. He explained that while with the new licencing system, tourism enterprises are expected to renew their licences every three years as opposed to the old system, where they were renewed annually, he is confident that there will be an increase in the number of registered enterprises in 2018. Mr. Chaila said he expects, ZTA to do more work in tourism enterprise regulation in the New Year, adding that among the key activities to be done in the coming year was the grading of accommodation establishments.