Parliament yesterday passed the new Tourism Act to strengthen the regulation, standardisation and development of the country’s tourism sector to align the industry with national development goals.
The new Act repeals and replaces the Tourism and Hotels Act of 1968 and establishes the Malawi Tourism Authority, a statutory body responsible for regulating the sector.
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Presenting the Bill in Parliament on behalf of Minister of Tourism Vera Kamtukule, Minister of Natural Resources and Climate Change Owen Chomanika said the legislation would help to address systemic inefficiencies that have historically impeded sectoral growth.
He said besides establishing the new regulatory body, the Act also proposes the creation of the Malawi College of Tourism, a national training institution to serve as the government’s main centre for professional development in tourism-related disciplines.
The law also introduces a registration and licensing framework for tourism enterprises, establishments and practitioners.
Reacting to the Act, Democratic Progressive Party spokesperson on the Bill William Susuwele Banda welcomed the law, but stressed the need for complementary investments in infrastructure.
“We cannot have a vibrant tourism sector unless we connect tourism sites through proper road networks and supporting infrastructure,” he said.
United Democratic Front spokesperson on the Bill Lillian Patel called for a harmonised registration and licensing system as well as a more supportive tax regime.
“The tax regime is so restrictive that sometimes it feels like we are competing with the tourism sector itself. Taxes need to be relaxed to help the sector grow,” she noted.
Parliamentary Committee on Trade, Tourism and Industry chairperson Paul Nkhoma acknowledged the Act’s potential, but cautioned that substantial funding would be required to operationalise the proposed institutions.
“Financing for the two institutions will rely on multiple sources, including levies, grants and government contributions,” he said.
The new law is also expected to facilitate the mapping of tourism zones, aligning with government efforts to promote Special Economic Zones and attract further investment in tourism infrastructure.
Tourism is touted as one of the sectors that is key to transform the economy in the short to medium-term
