By OLIVER SAMBOKO
WORKERS in the tourism and hospitality industry should also be prioritised for the Covid-19 vaccination as they are also among those at high risk of contracting the disease, says tourism expert Rose Musonda.
Government intends to rollout Covid-19 vaccination on over three million citizens, among them health care workers, seniors and vulnerable citizens, teachers and traditional leaders.
They would be vaccinated under the first phase of the UNICEF funded free covax programme.
Ms Musonda said health and safety of tourism workers should remain a priority in preparing a strong tourism rebound especially as the most countries were easing the travel restrictions.
She said workers in the tourism and hospitality industry were among the occupational groups that were hardest hit by the pandemic.
“It’s important to vaccinate employees in the tourism and hospitality sectors because the group of people have a lot of contact with people,” she said.
Ms Musonda said vaccinating workers in the tourism sector was not only important in helping to stop the spread of the virus but also would help the country to be a step ahead of competitors for safer tourism in the region.
She said the covid-19 outbreak has brought about a lot of challenges in the tourism sector, hence the urgent need to put measures that would insulate the sector from further shocks.
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