Govt yet to adopt domestic tourism strategy

Two years after its formulation, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism is yet to operationalise the Malawi Development Tourism Strategy, which could help to increase tourism contribution to the economy.

In an interview on Monday, director of tourism in the Department of Tourism, Isaac Katopola, said they hope to have the strategy adopted by September this year.

“Domestic plans and activities have always been part of our yearly plans. The strategy will, however, give a more clear direction on how we should promote domestic tourism for the next five years,” he said.

Among others, the strategy seeks to improve the utilisation of tourism products and services by locals through awareness and collaboration with private sector.

The strategy, which will be implemented under the 2020 Tourism Strategy, is expected to contribute to gross domestic product (GDP) from around four percent to 15 percent by 2020.

In an earlier interview, Malawi Tourism Council (MTC) chairperson Florentina Kabefu said lack of a vibrant manufacturing industry in the country has contributed to high cost of doing business in the tourism sector, a development that affects domestic tourism.

“In South Africa, for example, they do not have to import everything because the equipment is readily available locally,” she said. n