Private sector, Govt partnership to promote tourism

Mon, 13 Mar 2017 10:38:09 +0000

By ANNIE ZULU

THE Zambian business community should consider partnering with Government in the development of the creative industry through promotion of film and music production, Tourism and Arts Minister Charles Banda has said.

Mr. Banda observed that the industry has not fully been exploited in the country, particularly by the private sector.

He said the creative industry had vast potential for wealth and employment creation.

Mr. Banda has since appealed to the Zambian business community to take advantage of the conducive environment to invest in the industry.

“Creative industry in Zambia has not fully been exploited. In countries like Nigeria, the industry has continued to grow and has created a lot of jobs.

“The business community should, therefore, consider partnering with Government, also take advantage and invest in this untapped area which has so much potential for wealth,” he said.

He reiterated that investment in such areas would go a long way in developing and promoting local creative industries.

Mr. Banda stated that Government was committed to supporting programmes that would contribute towards national development and improve the livelihood of the Zambian people.

“Government through my Ministry will continue with the ongoing programme of providing cultural space for production and marketing of arts and cultural products coupled with the diversification of tourism products by creating new cultural products such as the Pamodzi carnival to create a worthwhile cultural experience,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Banda has disclosed that Government was in the process of developing a national tourism master plan which would anchor as an export strategy whose objective would be to increase the numbers of tourists visiting Zambia from abroad.

He said Government was also finalising the domestic tourism strategy to grow local tourism in the country.

“We are spearheading the development tourism circuits in the country especially the Northern and Southern circuits because these circuits have a high potential to increase tourists arrivals and enhance the earnings.

“My ministry will work closely with local authorities to put in place measures that will promote local tourism at district level. This will be through the development of local tourism and products and competitiveness in all our towns to expand foreign and domestic tourism,” he said.