Mwanamvekha decries tourism receipts leakage
Minister of Trade, Industry and Tourism Joseph Mwanamvekha has complained of tourism receipts leakage, which he says robs the country of the much-needed forex as the money is deposited in foreign accounts.
Tourism receipts leakage is a system whereby a section of tourism private sector operators instruct tourists and business partners to deposit payment of holiday packages into their foreign accounts.
Speaking on the sidelines of the first National Tourism Conference in Lilongwe yesterday, Mwanamvekha said this practice is one of the reasons the country is struggling to grow its tourism sector.
Said Mwanamvekha: “There is one financial transaction challenge, which I have been complaining about since I became minister responsible for tourism. This challenge is called ‘tourism receipts leakage’.
“This is detrimental for our tourism industry because it robs our country of foreign exchange earnings.”
On the proliferation of unplanned structures along the shores of Lake Malawi, the minister said there was need to zone all remaining suitable land along the lake so that they are available to investors who can build world-class resorts.
Malawi Tourism Council chairperson Florentine Kabefu concurred with the minister that there are various challenges dogging the tourism sector which can be sorted out if stakeholders worked together.
“This meeting has come at the right time because we will iron out the challenges that the sector is facing,” said Kabefu.
Sunbird Tourism Limited (STL) board chairperson Phillip Madinga hailed government for organising the summit, which he said has the potential to change the mindset of players in the sector.
