Thu, 20 Jul 2017 08:13:03 +0000
By ANDREW MUKOMA
THE Ministry of Tourism has finally committed to the construction of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) sustainable tourism for elimination of poverty (ST-EP) Community Resource Centre Legacy project in Livingstone.
Tourism and Arts Minister Charles Banda signalled the start of the project at the ground breaking ceremony in Livingstone.
Speaking during the ceremony, Mr. Banda disclosed that the project was a gift and an appreciation to the Livingstone community for their hospitality during the co-hosting with Zimbabwe of the 2013 UNWTO general assembly.
Mr. Banda said that apart from the resource centre being a tourism product development focused on the skills enhancement and capacity, the project will also constitute other activities.
These would include a restaurant for traditional cuisines as well as other requisite infrastructure for recreation facilities that seek to add value to Livingstone as a major tourist destination and a gateway for tourism development in Zambia.
The minister assured cooperating partners that the government was now keen to ensure the remaining activities of the project are implemented in accordance with the agreed project development objective and timeframe as indicated in the Memorandum of Understanding.
“Since 2017 has been declared a year of sustainable tourism for development, the project fits in very well as it is intended to provide sustainable livelihood to the Livingstone community through the services that this centre will provide,” he said.
“I wish to reiterate Government’s position on tourism. Government recognizes tourism as an important sector for socio-economic development and one of the four key sectors that are vehicles for economic growth as reflected in the Seventh National Development Plan (SNDP),” he said. He said this is because tourism is increasingly becoming an important sector in the economies of many countries in the world especially developing countries like Zambia.
Mr. Banda observed that the tourism industry has the potential to contribute to poverty reduction among the local people.
“I want to inform you that these developments have come to Livingstone because of Government’s initiative and resolve to transform Livingstone into the real Tourist Capital,” he said.
“Given the objectives and expected output of the project, it is my sincere hope that the Livingstone community will fully own the project and jealously guard the infrastructure,” he said.
