Tourism operators safe from cholera—Council

Malawi Tourism Council (MTC), a grouping of private sector tourism operators, has dispelled fears that “isolated” cholera cases are scaring away tourists, stressing that the disease has been contained.

In an interview in Lilongwe yesterday, MTC board chairperson Oswald Bwemba highlighted that this is not the first time cholera has affected the country.

He said: “Much as we appreciate that cholera has the potential to scare away tourists, it is pleasing that the problem was detected at an early stage and has been contained.

“Apart from Nkhata Bay, Salima and Karonga where cholera cases were reported, no lakeshore district has been affected, but we should not be complacent. What we need to do is to make sure that tourism operators consistently follow food safety hygiene measures.”

Last week, director of tourism Isaac Katopola said that tourists are cancelling their cross-border tourism packages, but could not quantify the cancellations in terms of figures.

He cited cross-border tourism packages from Zambia, Mozambique and Tanzania that have been cancelled due to cholera fears.

But Bwemba said the country continues to be a tourist haven and tourists must be informed that cholera has been contained.

So far, according to the Ministry of Health, cholera has claimed four lives with a total of more than 200 people affected.

In Zambia, cholera outbreak has claimed 63 lives since last September, with 2 672 reported cases while Tanzania has recorded 5 112 cases with 103 deaths since January 2017.

Tourism is an important sector to the economy with its contribution to gross domestic product (GDP) around seven percent and creating thousands of jobs, according to the 2017 Malawi Government Annual Economic Report.

MTC executive director Elsie Tembo called on tourist operators to exercise caution when preparing food and taking care of their surroundings.

“Cholera is indeed a challenge and has the potential to scare away tourists. What players in the industry need to do is to join the fight and assure tourists that they will be safe in the country because the disease has been contained.

“Government is doing all it can to ensure that this disease does not spread and we should safeguard our premises.”

The country first reported cholera outbreak in Karonga District which borders Tanzania in November last year.

The disease later spread to other tourist destinations of Nkhata Bay and Salima. n