Domestic tourism crucial—Minister
Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Culture, Michael Usi, has urged Malawians to patronise tourists attraction sites in the country as a way of boosting business in the sector.
This comes at a time most sites have been deserted following travel restrictions in some countries that have reduced the number tourists visiting the country.
Usi said this during a familiarisation tour at Lengwe National Park and Majete Game Reserve on Tuesday.
He lamented a mindset among Malawians that travel and site visits are for foreigners and low marketing initiatives of such places.
“We are promoting domestic tourism so that Malawians should come and enjoy what we have and for this to be done, we need to have a robust marketing strategy and we need to join hands as stakeholders to market the places,” Usi said.
A visit to Majete and Lengwe revealed that since the Covid-19 pandemic begun, about 90 percent of revenue has been lost as operations have slowed.
Parks and Wildlife Assistant, Shaibu Kadewere, said in the past such places would receive at least one visitor per day, however, currently they have on average, two visitors per week.
“Covid-19 has really affected tourist visits here to the point that we have removed the fee one pays at the gate and we have revised accommodation fees downwards but things are not changing,” Kadewere said.
The two Parks have more than 20 animal species.
Justin Mkweu is a fast growing reporter who currently works with Times Group on the business desk.
He is however flexible as he also writes about current affairs and national issues.
