Karonga earmarked for tourism plan

Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Culture Michael Usi says government plans to construct a motel and restaurant at Songwe Border Post in Karonga to promote tourism in the district.

He said this on Thursday during the awareness campaign of the National Tourism Investment Master Plan which was launched in April this year.

“Government through my ministry has embarked on projects to promote tourism to create jobs in the country. The Songwe Border Transit Facility will have 24 rooms and its restaurant will have 40 seats,” he said.

Usi urged community members to refrain from vandalism.

Usi said similar projects are 60 percent complete at Lilongwe Nature Sanctuary in Lilongwe and Kande Beach in Nkhotakota district.

Paramount Chief Kyungu of Chitipa and Karonga commended government for the initiative.

However, he asked the minister to develop structures to promote tourism in the two districts.

“The project has the potential to transform the face of Karonga. Therefore, I ask people of Chitipa and Karonga distrcts to populise the National Tourism Investiment Master Plan through culture, tradition, music, drama, media and traditional leaders to attract more tourists,” he said.

In an interview, former Karonga District Council chairperson Beliam Msukwa said the district has a lot to offer to attract tourists.

He cited hotsprings, mines, the beautiful lake and mountainous sceneries as tourism attractions. 

The projects are also being implemented in Cape Maclear in Mangochi.