Tourism

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Envoy urges African countries to promote domestic tourism

Posted: Thursday July 31, 2008 1:21 PM BT

By Felix Andrew

African governments and their private partners in tourism trade have been challenged to sensitise locals to visit home based tourism attractions to further boost the promising industry. This was said late last week in Dar es Salaam by Harry Mononga, Counselor at Malawi High Commission soon after witnessing the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between Africa Leisure Resorts of Malawi (ALR) and Peacock Hotels Ltd (PH).

He complained about the consistent trend in Africa whereby the lion's shares of tourists are foreigners, while most of the indigenous people, regardless of their income status, shun away from visiting their own attractions.

For instance, she said, last year Malawi received more than 750,000 tourists, most of whom were foreigners.

A similar trend is observable in Tanzania where tourism is now the leading foreign exchange earner.

"We have to make sure our people create a culture of visiting tourist attractions either within their home countries or even crossing borders to a neighbouring country, he insisted.

Mononga dismissed belief that visiting tourism attractions was pricey, but instead counseled that what was needed was the will to do so.

"Even those tourists coming from abroad are not that much well-to-do, they just save for some years before coming to Africa, let us emulate the same", he stated.

The Chairman of ALR, Isaac Mzumara, said the objective of the MoU was to formalise a strategic relationship between the two entities that seek cooperate in the investment and operation of tourist facilities in Malawi and Tanzania. It would also enable the Hotel to market tourist attractions in Tanzania to Malawi and other countries.

The company has already identified six opportunities in Malawi which are at various stages of development.

The lodges and hotels identified for link-ups include Chilumba Lodge, Nyika Resort, and Karonga Hotel, Chintheche Lodge, Kayekela tourist camp and Mzuzu city lodge.

Earlier the chairman of PH, Joseph Mfugale, said the MoU would create opportunity for two companies to develop a strategic partnership that would enhance their respective efforts to achieve their short to long term strategic goals.

PH was now keen to expand management and operations across the Africa continent.

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