South African firm to develop regional routes for tourism

South African firm to develop regional routes for tourism
Written by Edwin Mbulo in Livingstone
Wednesday, November 19, 2008 6:00:18 PM

OPEN Africa, a South African-based tourism development and marketing organisation, has gained approval for a medium-sized project from the World Bank/GEF to develop a corridor of biodiversity-focused tourism routes through Namibia and Zambia .
According to a news release by route developer Cobus du Plessis, OPEN Africa has decided to develop tourism routes in Zambia.

"We have decided to develop routes from Mpika to North Luangwa including Kapisha Hot springs and Shiwa Ng’andu. We also intend to go as far as North Luangwa to Luambe National Park and Kasanka National Park," he stated.

He added that the other areas earmarked are Southern Kafue National Park, Northern Barotse Land, Lower Zambezi or Lake Tanganyika and Livingstone.

"In Livingstone, we would really like to work with the Livingstone Tourism Association and the African Wildlife Foundation, not changing anything but strengthening the already existing efforts. I assume that is to market Livingstone and surrounding areas as a destination and in so doing, trying to attract more tourists and investment. The proposed "route" would greatly enhance already existing individual and collective marketing efforts across board,” stated du Plessis.