Lungu wins kudos over tourism council

PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu should be commended and supported by all well-meaning Zambians for creating a Tourism Council of Ministers, Tourism expert Rose Musonda has said.

Ms Musonda said the creation of the Tourism Council of Ministers would help the country attain its full tourism potential necessary for job creation.

On Monday, the President unveiled the council, comprising eleven Ministers in readiness for its inauguration.

The Council that will be chaired by President Lungu includes Ministers of Finance Bwalya Ng’andu, Tourism and Arts Ronald Chitotela, Home Affairs Stephen Kampyongo and National Development Planning Alexander Chiteme.

Others are Ministers of Information and Broadcasting Services Dora Siliya, Foreign Affairs Joe Malanji, Commerce, Trade and Industry Christopher Yaluma and Communications and Transport Mutotwe Kafwaya.

The Council will also have Local Government Minister Charles Banda, Housing and Infrastructure Development Minister Vincent Mwale and Energy Minister Matthew Nkhuwa.

Ms Musonda said the move by the President to find a lasting solution to challenges facing the tourism sector had come at the right time when the country was positioning itself as a tourism hub in the region.

“Our hope as stakeholders in the sector is that the council will deal with all the challenges facing the industry like poor road network to some tour sites and also lack of adequate air transport coverage,” she said.

In a speech read on his behalf by Vice President Inonge Wina during the launch, President Lungu urged ministers on the council to work towards strengthening efforts from their portfolios to resolve issues in the tourism sector.

He said tourism cut across all ministries and its success would depend on the cooperation from all Ministries and other stakeholders.