Tour operators urged in Livingstone


SOUTHERN Province Obvious Mwaliteta has urged tourism operators in the country to come up with affordable packages for Zambians to stimulate domestic tourism.
Mr Mwaliteta noted that tour operators were charging very high thereby making most Zambians fail to access tourism services in their country.
He said some tourism packages such as boat cruise, animal encounters, helicopter flights and bungee jumping among others were very expensive for ordinary Zambians to access.
Mr Mwaliteta was speaking at Sizzler Restaurant in Livingstone yesterday after participating in a Livingstone Press Club fundraising walk to raise money for the World Press Freedom day celebrations in the tourist capital on May 3, 3012.
He noted that most tourism packages had become a preserve for foreign tourists as most local residents could not afford such services.
“Tourism products and services should be enjoyed by both local and foreign tourists hence we want operators to come up with affordable prices so that our children can also access these facilities.
Government has taken not of this challenge and we will engage operators to ensure that local people benefit from tourism,” Mr Mwaliteta said.
Most tourism operators in Livingstone charge an average of US$ 100 per activity which they offer.
Mr Mwaliteta also said 2013 would be a busy year for Livingstone as the tourist capital would be hosting the 20th session of the United Nations World Tourism (UNWTO) general assembly at which more than 2, 000 foreign delegates are expected to attend.
Further, Livingstone would next year host the celebrations for the 200th anniversary of the birth of the Scottish explorer, David Livingstone whom the town is named after
“As Government, we are committed to ensuring that the UNWTO general assembly is hosted successfully
I, therefore, wish to appeal to the media here in Livingstone to take keen interest in informing and educating the public on the preparations being made towards the successful hosting of this important global tourism event,” Mr Mwaliteta said.
He also urged the business community in Livingstone to start repositioning themselves for increased business opportunities as Zambia and Zimbabwe co-host the UNWTO general assembly in Livingstone and Victoria Falls town next year.
Mr Mwaliteta also urges media to highlight a number of developmental projects which were currently being undertaken by the Government in Southern Province and the whole nation at large.
Speaking at the same function, Livingstone Press Club president Brian Hatyoka said the Club had lined up a number of fundraising activities to raise money for the successful hosting of the World Press Freedom day celebrations in Livingstone on May 3, 2012
Mr Hatyoka, who is also Times of Zambia Livingstone Bureau Chief Reporter, said the first fundraising activity was held at Mukuni Big Five last Saturday where local residents had an opportunity to interact with lions, cheetahs and elephants among other animals.    
“We are also planning to have a fun fair at Mukuni Park on April 28, 2012 and a boat cruise before the end of this month to raise funds for the successful hosting of the World Press Freedom day in Livingstone on May 3, 2012.
Our budget for this year’s World Press Freedom day celebrations in Livingstone is between K15 million and K20 million and we are hopeful that this target will be met,” Mr Hatyoka said.
Chief Sekute of Kazungula district in Southern Province commended the media in Livingstone for informing and educating the public on various subjects.
He said there was need for all citizens to supplement Government efforts of fostering development in the country. 
In a vote of thanks, Livingstone Press Club member Hyde Haguta urged parliamentarians to consider enacting the Freedom of Information bill so that the media and the public could have much access to information 
Mr Haguta, who is also Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) Livingstone assignment editor, said it was currently difficult to access critical information due to the absence of the Freedom of Information bill.
Southern Province permanent secretary Edwin Zumbunu, Southern Province Commissioner of Police Brenda Muntemba, ZNBC director general Chibamba Kanyama, Livingstone District Commissioner Paul Sensele, Zambia Tourism Board (ZTB) tourism services manager Jocelyn Mutinta and Patriotic Front (PF) Southern Province political secretary Brian Hapunda were among the notable personalities who participated during the Livingstone Press Club fundraising walk from Mukuni Park to Falls Park yesterday.  
End

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

repackage health information- ZCCP

From CHALI MULENGA in Livingstone   Zambia Centre for Communication Programmes (ZCCP) says repackaging of health messaging when communicating to particular audiences is critical.    ZCCP executive director, Johans Mtonga said the way the health messages were being packaged was a challenge as the intended audiences were sometimes left out. “The packages of health information for target audiences between 12 and 18, the packaging is for them to avoid unprotected sex but they are those that practicing unprotected sex, what should be their message,” he said.   H e was speaking during the graduation ceremony of 17 participants of the leadership in strategic health communication at New Fairmount Hotel in Livingstone,   Mr Mtonga said this challenge as resulted into some of the children finding themselves on the other side of the situation by getting pregnant. He said this same young when they go to collect condom they are denied the chan...
Read more

police impound scrap metal truck

Th e police in Livingstone have impounded a truck that was carrying scrap metal. Southern Province police commissioner Charity Katanga confirmed the development in Livingstone in an interview. She said that truck and trailer registration number AJC 5538 that was loaded with scrap metal property of the Livingstone City Council. Ms Katanga said the matter was reported to the police by Livingstone mayor Aggrey Njekwa who reported that the scrap metal was sold without the knowledge and authority of the council. She said the police are still investigating the matter.   And police in Mazabuka has arrested Former MMD presidential aspirant Nason Musoni, 54 for threatening residents with a revolver in the district. She said that Musoni 54 who challenged Rupiah Banda for the 2011 MMD presidency was arrested on Wednesday and charged with threatening violence. “The incident happened in Mazabuka around 17:25 hours when Musoni went with his Toyota Hiace registration number AL...
Read more

ZAMBIA EVENING WEATHER FORECAST: TUESDAY (08/02/2016)

GENERAL SITUATION A weak Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) continues to oscillate about the southern borders of Zambia. RAINFALL FIGURES IN MILLIMETERS REPORTED AT 08:00HRS (09/02/2016) Mt Makulu 50, Kabompo 45, Misamfu 35, Sikwale ( Pemba) 32, Jalila ( Pemba) and Choma 23, Kujokela (Pemba) 21,  Mpulungu 18, Zambezi and Mbala 15, Chama 8, Samfya 5, Kanchomba and  Kaoma 3, Kazungula 2, Kalabo,  Isoka, Dongwe and Lusaka City 1, Kawambwa, Kasempa, Kafironda, Mambwe, UNZA, Namwala  and Choma had a trace or less than a millimetre. FORECAST FOR TONIGHT: TUESDAY (09/02/2016) Western, Northwestern, Copperbelt, Luapula, Northern and Muchinga Provinces: Cloudy with rain and thunder in places. The rest of Zambia: Partly cloudy to cloudy with rain and thunder in few places. FORECAST FOR TOMORROW: WEDNESDAY (10 /02/2016) Southern, Lusaka, central and Eastern Provinces: Partly cloudy to cloudy with a chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms. The rest of Zambia: Partly cl...
Read more