Musokotwane urges diversification of Zambia’s economy

COMMENT - Why fund agriculture and manufactring or infrastructure when you can fund tourism? Tourism will never create a sound economy on it's own.

Musokotwane urges diversification of Zambia’s economy
By Edwin Mbulo in Livingstone
Mon 09 Nov. 2009, 04:00 CAT

FINANCE minister Situmbeko Musokotwane has noted the need to diversify Zambia’s economy especially in the tourism sector. Dr Musokotwane said there is need to grow the tourism sector in Livingstone and diversify Zambia’s economy away from mining.

He is in Livingstone for a reconnaissance visit of the greater Livingstone Tourism Area Action Plan (TAAP) Investment sites.

“You may recall that we have been talking on the need to diversify our economy even when we are growing the mining sector. We have spent a lot of money growing the Northern Circuit but we have not forgotten the need to expand tourism in Livingstone,” he said.

Dr Musokotwane added that there was also need to find more land for the development of the hospitality industry in the tourist capital.

“This is the vision we have. Our approach to develop the sector is also the need for land and energy. We need land for building the infrastructure such as hotels, conference centres and entertainment resorts hence the involvement of the ministries of lands and energy,” said Dr Musokotwane.

And tourism minister Catherine Namugala said there cannot be development in the tourism sector without good infrastructure such as roads and energy for hotels.

“We are moving in together as there is need for infrastructure if we are to develop the industry, we need land and power for any hotel to be built. Our vision is to diversify the economy and in the tourism sector we have seen developments in Kasaba Bay and the Northern Circuit,” she said.

Namugala said her vision was to see more tourist visits to Livingstone by developing more tourism spots.
“Right now the average time a tourist spends in Zambia is four days, we need to work on the other tourism spots so that we increase their stay,” said Namugala.

And lands deputy minister Allan Mbewe said his ministry would support the growth of the tourism sector through the provision of land.