LIVINGSTONE MUSEUM VISITS DROP

THELivingstone Museum has recorded a drop in the number of visits during the 2021 first quarter. Livingstone Museum Director, George Mudenda said the two years, 2020 and 2021, had been highly affected by the (Covid-19 cases in the country.

Mr Mudenda said since the outbreak of Covid-19 became serious, tourism was not avoided by both local and international tourists as they were restricted on making movements.

He said in the first quarter of 2020, the Livingstone Museum recorded 4,193 visits while the 2021 first quarter recorded 2,963 visits of both local and international tourists.

Mr Mudenda said in 2020, a total of 1, 331 foreign tourists both adults and children visited the facility while in 2021, only 109 visits of foreign tourists were recorded.

He said since the Livingstone Museum opened for business this year after experiencing a closure of almost three months, the number of visits increased from 2, 849 to 2, 853.

Meanwhile, Mr Mudenda noted that schools in the country had been important partners with his institution.

Mr Mudenda said students from different regions of the country had visited the facility for tourism and educational purposes.

He said the students were able to get hand-on experience which he believed they had highly benefited from.

“Museums have a mandate to collect, document, interpret and exhibit the moveable heritage which should be taken advantage of by every member of the public. The Livingstone Museum is welcome to all interested researchers to utilize the facility for research purposes,” he said.

Mr Mudenda added that all museums in the country cover up the knowledge gaps and fill in an understanding of the etiquette of the Zambians to members of the community.