manager Jocelyn Mutinta (right) at ZTB
Ms Mutinta said affordable rates for Zambians would enable tour operators to keep their premises fully booked at all times as opposed to maintaining higher charges and make their premises empty.
She noted that most Zambians were unable to access tourism products because of higher charges in the sector.
Ms Mutinta said in an interview in Livingstone that a lot of Zambians were capable of utilising tourism products especially those which were perceived to be for foreigners once the rates were affordable.
She said domestic tourism had potential to sustain the tourism sector throughout the year as Zambians were always available to spend money in their own country.
“It is not true that tourism activities in Zambia are designed for foreign tourists only. Most Zambians really want to do these activities but they can’t manage because of high charges.
“Tour operators should look at introducing affordable rates in their packages for Zambians and that way they will have a lot of Zambians utilising your facilities,” Ms Mutinta said.
South Africa attracts about 25 million domestic tourists and about nine million international tourists every year.
This is important in sustaining the local economy as domestic tourists are always available in their country to spend money on tourism.
Ms Mutinta was happy that a Zambian company based in Livingstone, Maano Adventures, had invested in the business of white water rafting around Victoria Falls, an activity which is perceived to be for foreign investors.
She said ZTA wished to see more Zambians owning and participating in all tourism and adventure activities such as water rafting, helicopter flights, boat cruise and game drive among others.
“As ZTA, we are so excited to see Zambians taking up tourism investment. We have always wanted locals to come on board. This is their country and there is a reason why God put the Victoria Falls in Zambia.
“The Victoria Falls is supposed to benefit Zambians first after which rest of the world must enjoy it,” Ms Mutinta said.
Its a breath of fresh air that there is no dull ministers about for now like the retired dull nurse Jean Kapata.
THE GOVERNMENT THROUGH THE MINISTRIES OF LOWER AND HIGHIER EDUCATION, TOURISM, TRADITIONAL LEADERS MUST QUICKLY DESIGN ‘ZAMBIA TOURISM’, COURSE WHICH SHOULD START FROM NURSERY SCHOOL UP TO UNIVERSITY LEVEL. THIS COURSE MUST INCLUDE TOPICS SUCH AS: ZAMBIA’S NATURAL RESOURCES IN VARIOUS TOURISM AREAS; AT LEAST 3 INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGES SUCH AS SPANISH,FRENCH AND GERMAN (looking at high volume tourist potential); HYGIENE AND CLEANLINESS; TRADITIONAL ACTS AND PERFORMANCES (dances, singing and instrument playing); TOUR NARRATIONS TO CARRIAGE (tour buses) PASSENGERS SKILLS etc. THE GOVERNMENT MUST ALSO CONSIDER COMPULSORY ANNUAL LEAVE (HOLIDAY) FOR ALL PERMANENT EMPLOYEES IN ZAMBIA. EXCHANGE OF HOLIDAY DAYS FOR CASH MUST BE ABOLISHED TO COMPEL WORKERS TO GO ON HOLIDAYS.
Si maLodges na maHotels za anyoko. Build your own out of Eurobonds or the IMF package and then charge peanuts and see how long you will survive. Why should private businesses subsidise bakaponya when govt is removing subsidies on everything?
from @2 THE NEW TOURISM COURSE WITHIN 5 TO 10 YEARS SHOULD START TO PRODUCE A NEW BREED OF ZAMBIANS WITH TOURISM ANNUAL HOLIDAYS IN MIND WHO WILL ALSO BECOME ZAMBIA’S TOURISM AMBASSADORS. ONE COURSE SUBJECT I FORGOT TO MENTION IS THE, TOURISM BUSINESS, TOPIC.
The gov’t should also start promoting holidaying at home. Subsidise the holiday entrepreneurs if IMF will let us! Nothing stops Zambians hopping into their cars and going off on adventure holidays. Buy a family tent and camp out in the wilderness! It’s true that Zambians are not adventurous. When I made a second trip to Lusaka this year, Me and my 4 Girl Crew hopped into a Jeep, drove out to Kafue and had such fun, sight seeing. We discussed why we Zambians don’t make the most of our natural free surrounds and made a plan to do it more often. We bought freshly caught Kafue bream as we headed back to Lusaka…AND that was the best tasting bream ever! Beats buying the frozen version from Spar any day!
Zambians have had 52 yrs to develop tourism but have not bothered its the investors that took the risk to develop tourism in a country that had no infrastructure and real tourism that only began in 1993. today how many Zambians have jobs because of investors??? as for cheap tours and hotel rooms , govt should bring down all the fees and taxes that are around. even now a 1.5 per cent tax levy on tourism services including tours , accommodation and food starts 1 jan 17. Zambians should start their own local tourism places / tours and see how much it cost to run a business in Zambia
THE OTHER SERIOUS INCENTIVE ZAMBIA CAN MAKE MONEY FROM IS CULTURAL TOURISM. CULTURAL TOURISM IS JUST ON THE LIPS OF POLITICIANS AND MAYBE TECHNOCRATS, BUT, NEVER HAS IT BEEN IMPLEMENTED. I AM VERY SURE ABOUT THE REASON IT HAS IT HAS NEVER BEEN IMPLEMENTED, YET. THIS IS BECAUSE IT HASN’T BEEN DESIGNED, YET. AND NO ONE KNOWS WHO SHOULD DESIGN AND PACKAGE IT. WHETHER IT IS TRADITIONALISTS, ACADEMICS, POLITICIANS OR ANY OTHER PERSON. FOR ME A COMMITTEE COMPRISING THE ABOVE MENTIONED PEOPLE SHOULD BE FORMED UP TO START BRAIN-STORMING WHAT SHOULD AND SHOULD NOT BE INCLUDED IN CULTURAL TOURISM PACKAGES. PACKAGES COULD RANGE FROM 1, 2 TO 3 WITH DIFFERENT RATES.
AFTER DESIGNING THE ABOVE. THEN A COMMITTEE WITH DIFFERENT SETS OF SKILLS SHOULD BRAIN-STORM THE SET UP DESIGN OF A TRADITIONAL ZAMBIAN VILLAGE DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTED SO BEAUTIFULLY IN ORDER TO ATTRACT ANY LEVEL OF SOCIAL STRATA FROM THE LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL CLIENTILE. THE INSIDE OF THESE VILLAGE HOUSES MUST HAVE PROPER CONCRETE FLOORING WITH TRADITIONALLY DESIGNED FURNITURE AND DRAPERY, KITCHEN UTENSILS, ETC. (mulungushi textiles is not re-opened for nothing- they shouls be innovative and fit into most of these things). EVERY VILLAGE MUST HAVE A PARK-LIKE PERFORMANCE GROUND AS IT ALWAYS USED TO BE. MIND YOU ADDING VALUE TO ALL THESE IS CRUCIAL- EDUCATION, EDUCATION, EDUCATION.
ONCE UPON A TIME A WHITE FRIEND OF MINE WAS VERY ANXIOUS ABOUT ENROLLING AT GOLDSMITH UNIVERSITY FOR SHORT COURSES IN “AFRICAN DRUMMING”. SO, HE WANTED SOMEONE TO BE GOING WITH AND OFFERED TO PAY FOR ME. AT FIRST IT NEVER MADE SENSE TO ME BECAUSE ONE CAN LEARN FROM ANYONE HOW TO BEAT A DRUM (DRUMMING), GUITAR, XYLOPHONE, MALIMBA/KALIMBA, ETC. SECOND THOUGHT TOLD ME THAT A CHAP WHO HAS GONE TO SCHOOL TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY AFRICAN TRADITIONAL INSTRUMENTS HAS ACTUALLY ADDED VALUE TO HIS/HER SKILLS AND THEIR CERTIFICATE DOCUMENTS THAT VALUE. SO, THESE THINGS SHOULD BE INTRODUCED IN SCHOOLS, COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.