‘Boost tourism promotion’
FILM makers in Zambia should deliberately incorporate tourism promotion in their productions as a way of marketing the country’s tourism potential, says Alliance for Luapula Young Entrepreneurs (ALYE) Executive Director Edwin Nyirongo.
In an interview yesterday, Mr Nyirongo said movies, documentaries and music videos were effective platforms that could be used to effectively market tourism hot spots across the country.
Mr Nyirongo said the idea had been proved to be workable in South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Uganda, among others.
“When you watch Rhythm City or Scandal! on e.TV which is a South African channel, for instance, you will see them showing shots of certain tourist attraction such as bungee jumping.
“It’s not a coincidence, they are simply marketing what their country has to offer in terms of tourism. Our Zambian television producers can learn something from the initiative,” Mr Nyirongo explained. He said Zambian producers should take advantage of international television platforms such as Zambezi Magic TV which were showcasing Zambian content to the international market.
“We can market our tourism on shows like ‘‘My Kitchen Party Zambia.’’ This programme is watched by viewers in over 50 countries on various DStv channels including Zambezi Magic TV and Mzansi Wethu respectively,” Mr Nyirongo said.
Mr Nyirongo also challenged local broadcasters to step up their efforts and promote domestic tourism.
He said if properly marketed, the tourism sector had potential to create job opportunities and alleviate poverty in the country.