Tourism gets lion’s share
By ANDREW MUKOMA GOVERNMENT has increased allocation to the tourism sector by 40 percent in the 2018 national budget, says Minister of Tourism Charles Banda.
Mr. Banda said that previously, his ministry was viewed as a social one but now it has been turned into an economic ministry.
Speaking in Livingstone when he addressed the business sector, Mr. Banda said that the 2018 budget embraced everyone, and would not leave anyone behind.
“We are no longer a social but an economic ministry. The 2018 budget favours the ministry, we have a good start of 40 percent increase in the budgetary allocation to market Zambia,
“Every country has the responsibility to market its uniqueness about what they have. For Zambia, we have not done a lot like our colleagues in Zimbabwe and South Africa - to market our tourism potential,” he said.
Mr. Banda attributed the low marketing levels to limited resources which the ministry experienced in the past.
“Zambia has not been visible so we have to do more in market- ing our country," he said.
And Mr. Banda has assured the tourism sector in Livingstone that the long awaited international conferencing facility, three wheels and a five-star hotel would soon materialise.
He said that were certain issues that had delayed the project but they were being addressed.
Meanwhile, Livingstone Chamber of Commerce president Namakau Siyanga has praised Government for allocating the ministry with more funds.
Ms. Siyanga also expressed confidence that the 2018 budget would yield the expected results.