The government of Malawi has announced its development of a strategic five-year 2020 Tourism Development plan to guide the country’s developments in the tourism sector. Minister of Information, Tourism and Wildlife, Kondwani, said in the capital, Lilongwe, that the plan will be due for implementation in the next financial year.
“The plan will see tourism in the country contributing much to the economy by creating jobs. Since many activities will be taking place in the sector, the rate of unemployment will be reduced,” he said.
According to him, the sector currently contributes 7.8 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the plan will see tourism in Malawi contributing up to 15 percent to the GDP and creating 140,000 jobs in addition to the current 140,000.
He added that the number of tourist arrivals will be doubled to about 2 million from the country’s strategic source markets of Europe, North America , Canada, South Africa and that the emerging markets of Asia will also be penetrated by 2020.
However, he pointed out, to achieve these targets, the sector will be expected to undertake major reforms. Among others, these will include changing the current institutional set-up through the creation of a Destination Management Organization. This will aim at making the sector more efficient and effective, diversifying product portfolios, improving the existing tourism products and reviewing and modernising the visa regime and legal instruments.
