Cultural icon, who goes by the moniker Mr Malawi King, real name Innocent Sopani Nyirenda, said Tuesday that the country needs to wake up from its nap and utilise its cultural legacy to attract the global audience.
Passionate about, and dedicated to, promoting the country to the world, Nyirenda said Malawi needed to promote its unique history, culture and heritage by learning from other countries.
Currently in India on a journey of learning, opportunity and connection, Nyirenda said Malawi can learn from India’s Statue of Unity.
“Our study tour took us to India’s iconic Statue of Unity in Gujarat—a powerful blend of nation building and tourism. This is a powerful lesson on how history, leadership, identity and tourism can be transformed into economic opportunity,” he said.
He added that India did not build just a statue but, rather, erected a tourism ecosystem.
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“Tourism creates businesses, jobs, stronger communities and stronger national brands. We have extraordinary cultural and natural assets but now the opportunity is to think beyond attractions,” Nyirenda said.
He said the country needed to turn identity into experience, experience into tourism and tourism into economic development.
“Malawi has incredible cultural heritage, talented artists, creative entrepreneurs, tourism assets and stories which are waiting to be transformed into sustainable economic opportunities,” Nyirenda said.
Through the support of the India’s High Commission to Malawi, Nyirenda has been given the opportunity to participate in the International Training Programme on Entrepreneurial Management, which started on August 12 and ends on August 25.
