The Campaign is “Visit Zambia 2005 - 2010”

The “Visit Zambia 2005” campaign has been extended. It's due to its great success But then the world most popular sport, the FIFA World Cup, will be hosted by South Africa and for this first time ever in 2010. And Zambia, a two-hour short flight away, is home to the mighty world heritage site, the Victoria Falls .

So the campaign is now “Visit Zambia 2005 - 2010.” To support this the government of Zambia has disbursed US $1.2 million through the Tourism, Development Credit Facility (TDCF). It’s a credit facility designed to assist local entrepreneurs in tourism. Let’s harness the beautiful and unique Zambian safaris…

Minister of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources, Kabinga Pande said in Lusaka that 39 applicants out of 40 qualified for the loans. Mr Pande said the Visit Zambia Campaign was a huge task, which required government and private sectors' support to effectively implement it.

The minister said the successful implementation of the campaign was meant to accelerate growth in international tourists by 400,000 between 2005 and to 2010 to reach the one million mark by 2010. In 2004 international tourist arrivals were 610,109. This will increase Gross Domestic Product (GDP) contribution from 2.7 per cent in 2004 to 10 percent in 2010

Japan Expo 2005 and Zambia Safari

It all started on March 25, 2005. An exciting six months long World Expo 2005 in Aichi, Japan . On September 24, the exposition closed its doors. By then the Zambian stand had recorded one of the highest numbers of visitors. The highest being 26, 339 visitors on Monday September 19. The Zambian mission in Tokyo has confirmed...

It was a hive of activity and a grueling period at the Zambian pavilion! A flurry of “visa enquires and requests for information on Zambian tourism, trade and investment potential.” The Zambian Embassy in Tokyo said the average number of visitors to the Zambian stand pavilion in the last two weeks had been 20,000 visitors per day.

Of course the Victoria Falls received most enquiries. Other enquiries were on agricultural products such as coffee, peanuts and sugar.

During the Expo-2005 Aichi, Japan many countries jostled to promote their best offers in trade, culture, tourism and technology. And Zambia as an African safari country used this effectively. Visitors’ arrival numbers in Zambia are going up, up and UP!

But Zambia’s traditional export is copper and Metal Fabricators of Zambia Plc (ZAMEFA) use it to produce copper cables. Konkola Copper Mines Plc (KCM) is the largest mining company and a major copper producer in Zambia. So it represented other mining houses by exhibiting various metal ores found in Zambia.

Copper is not the only product of Zambia. Gemstones and precious stones were also exhibited at the exposition as part of the Zambian products. These attracted significant interest among visitors.

Now it’s Carnival Time in Zambia

Ten days of fun and celebration. The carnival will culminate into a “Visit Zambia 2005” campaign celebration. October is the month. And Zambia commemorates its independence day on October 24. This year’s celebration will be the forty-first. Malumba Malumba the Afri-Arts Consult (AAC) resource person has announced.

The “Visit Zambia 2005” carnival will start from Kitwe the hub of the copper mining industry in Zambia. In ten days the carnival will travel through all the towns along the line of rail through Lusaka the country’s capital city to Livingstone at the Victoria Falls.

Afri-Arts Consult (AAC), a group of young artists, is organising the “Mosi-Os-Tunya” Carnival from October 15 to 24. The carnival will take the form of a parade consisting various replicas from legendary ethnic tales and corporate products.

The parade is designed to animate outdoor opera of culture and corporate images in gigantic sizes. There will be numerous performances from various arts traveling along the road to Livingstone. The carnival will also focus on HIV/AIDS.

Recently AAC held a colourful Cultural and Executive Business Forum (CEBF) at Holiday Inn, Lusaka. The conference encouraged business houses to participate in the carnival.

Chiefness Chiawa, Chief Chipepo, Tourism and Environment deputy minister Neddy Nzowa and many other company executives attended the forum. Zambia safari and traditional culture go hand in hand

During the >“Mosi-Os-Tunya” Carnival companies will brand their vehicles. And on the sides will be escorts wearing bright cultural costumes. A cultural safari on display for ten days!

Zambia Safari is Bursting at the Seams

Livingstone International Airport has experienced a whopping 70 percent rise in tourist arrivals. Domestic tourists are up too by 41 percent. All this in just the first quarter of 2005! National Heritage Conservation Commission (NHCC) acting public relations manager Maxwell Zulu confirmed this. And so it’s a field day for Zambia safari operators.

So what’s up? The city of Livingstone is bursting at its seams. Investment activities are in top gear more especially around the Victoria Falls. A variety of new hospitality facilities such as ultra modern hotels, lodges and guesthouses to accommodate tourists are being constructed all round. And land is up for grabs. It’s like the ‘partition of Africa by Europeans’ in the late eighteenth century…

Various airlines are flying in international arrivals: Nationwide, British Airways,
South African Airways and Zambian Airways. Air charters are also busy taking a piece of their pie.

But who’s getting the spin offs? The operators of cruise boats on the banks of the Zambezi River, the airlines and hoteliers. They’re all rising to the occasion… They’re equal to the task of increased demand in traffic. And this particular traffic is welcome too

For instance the African Queen, a five star cruise boat named after the high priestess Bendwango, serves the Sun International hotel resorts. In July 2005 the cruise boat recorded a mega increase in tour hires – 60 percent!

Other cruise boats that provide water spots and boating services ply the Zambezi above the Victoria Falls: Bwato Adventures, Taonga Safaris and Makumbi. These flowery-like names mean something: “Boat,” “Thank You” and “Clouds.” And Safari Per Excellence operates the Makumbi cruise boat.

WTO Promotes Quality African Tourism

World Tourism Organisation (WTO) consultant Christophe de Bruyn has called for a management organisation to enforce standards and ensure tourism quality in African destinations. This is to be based on a public-private partnership. The Zambian government couldn’t agree more because standards are so important in tourism.

De Bryun believes the body could also have the responsibility of building capacity among local stakeholders regarding quality issues, priorities and action plans. This organization could also monitor quality improvement programmes and performance indicators.

De Bruyn said the Internet was an important tool for quality endorsement on the global tourism market. A scheme can be established to enable visitors find shops and restaurants they can trust. This scheme would certify shops and restaurants that pass stringent annual assessments. This is the way forward for Zambian tourism.

The effect is quality service and satisfied customers. International tourist arrivals would increase for Africa. Domestic tourist would also increase. And Zambia safari would be a direct beneficially of this consented global effort.

Trans Frontier to Boost Zambia Safari and Tourism

Zambian minister of tourism Kabinga Pande recently attended the Malawi/Zambia Trans Frontier Conservation Area (TFCA) project meeting. This project is meant to boost tourism in the neighbouring countries of Zambia and Malawi.

Officially opening the Malawi/Zambia Trans Frontier Conservation Area workshop at Holiday Inn in Lusaka Pande said the TFCA was one of the fastest growing development projects in Southern Africa Development Community (SADC). The project started last year and aims to create a peace park at the Zambian and Malawian border. And the target? To enhance tourism in Malawi and Zambia..

Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) and the Malawi department of parks and wildlife have formalized the establishment of TFCA. This will improve ecological integrity, joint wildlife management of tourism and policy regulation for the proposed Trans Frontier Conservation Area. I couldn’t agree more for conservation is my life’s greatest passion.

The “Visit Zambia 2005” campaign is miles ahead. Fruits are now starting to get ready for the picking. For tourists’ arrival figures are going up.

..And the joint venture with Malawi, the ”warm heart of Africa”, is a stroke of genius.

Tourists for Zambia Safari Increase

The Zambia National Tourist Board (ZNTB) is extremely ecstatic. The “Visit Zambia 2005" campaign is paying off. Already there has been an increase of 34 percent in domestic tourists to national parks during the first half of 2005. Similarly international tourist arrivals has increase by not less than 19 percent

Where did the local tourists go?

The Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park near the Victoria Falls has drawn in 52 percent of the total visitors. South Luangwa the Zambia’s premier national park attracted the second largest number. 23.6 percent preferred this park.

…And what about the international tourists?

Again Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park attracted more international tourist than any other national park. 45 percent visited the park in the first half of this year. The South Luangwa National Park took second place having allowed 39 percent enjoyed its safaris …and Zambia’s best lodges in a park. South Laungwa has that.

Where did they come from?

The international tourists who enjoyed Zambia safari came from everywhere.

The British accounted for 23 percent of the total international tourist arrivals to Zambia. The Americans at 16.5 percent came in second place. The South Africans (10.3 percent) were the third most attracted to Zambia’s safari.

The rest came from the rest of the wide world. Now the whole world knows about Zambia safari. ‘They are on their feet heading to Africa.’ But of course only to sample Zambia “Africa’s number one emerging tourist destination.” Yes Zambian tourism is in the news. The World Tourism Organisation can vouch for it.

Zambia to Supply EA Electricity

It’s not only Zambia safari that is important in this country. Energy from water is a natural resource in abundance. And so Zambia will power the electricity inter-connector project for East Africa (EA). This giant project will cost an estimated US $350 million. That’s 350 mega bucks…!

Promotion manager for private power investment in the ministry of energy in Zambia John Wright said the project will use a public sector approach. The initial component in the inter-connector project will be the development of a 700-kilometre power line from Serenje in Zambia to Mbeya in Tanzania. This four-nation project involves Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya and Rwanda. Completion of the project is expected to in 2009.

Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (Zesco Limited) managing director Rhodnie Sisala said the electricity inter-connector would be a common link to connect east and southern Africa including South Africa. Zambia is already connected to southern Africa through the Kariba Dam hydro power station.

Lake Kariba on the Zambezi River provides both water for electricity and quality time for leisure. Water sports and lakeshore lodges are great…but then I digress...

Rhodnie Sisala said the project had the full backing of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). It is one way to promote development infrastructure in Africa. The funds for the electricity inter-connector project are likely to come from any of the three banks; African Development Bank, Development Bank of Southern Africa and the World Bank.

Zambia Safari and International Business

The Zambezi Sun in Livingstone was once again host to an important trade advisory meeting for Zambia. This was the forth Zambia International Business Advisory Council (ZIBAC) conference held recently.

Zambian president Levy Mwanawasa informed the ZIBAC that the eight percent Gross National Product (GDP) had become a reality. His government had worked had to ensure an 8 percent growth rate in next year’s budget. “Private sector support and the government fiscal discipline will guarantee it,” he enthused.

But this is widely accepted. What with the mining, agriculture and the tourism industry growing?

And Zambia commerce and trade minister Dipak Patel said the country was among countries that had diversified their economies, stimulated expansion and improved the investment climate. Patel said the third conference held last year introduced the Private Sector Development (PSD) reform programme. It’s a venture between government and the private sector.

The Zambia Business Forum (ZBF) says ZIBAC will support the government-private sector initiative for economic development. Wamulume Kalabo chairman of both Zambia Associations of Chambers and Industries (ZACCI) and ZBF said recently.

The investments incentives have encouraged many safari enterprises. Zambian tourism is getting the required boost from business houses. ...And the role of Zambia safari in the country’s GDP is on the rise!

WTO Supports Zambia Safari Efforts

Safari meetings and conferences are happening in Zambia. But that’s because the World Tourism Organisation (WTO) has recognized the country as the number one emerging tourism destination in Africa.

The Holiday Inn in Lusaka recently hosted a regional workshop on building competition and quality systems for African tourism. WTO deputy secretary-general David de Villiers urged African governments to provide leadership in promoting and developing the tourism industry. The private sector initiative is key and we couldn’t agree more.

The reason for this meeting was simple. Africa today gets less than three percent of international tourist arrivals despite its great endowment in natural and cultural tourism. But a turn around is imminent and African safari will attract more and more tourists. And Zambia safari is a key player.

A special programme for Africa, the Sustainable Tourism for Elimination of Poverty (STEP) is an initiative supported by WTO. Ousmane Ndiaye the Africa region representative for WTO anticipates Africa is moving forward in tourism.

Zambian tourism minister Kabinga Pande supports this view. He said Zambia was revising the tourism Act in order to respond to the demand for quality in hospitality industry. The focus should be regional packaging of tourism products in Africa. And training is a must.

And who wants to join? Safari enterprises are becoming much easier to get in Zambia.

Visit Zambia 2005 the Zambia Safari "Carnival"

This is the ultimate, the finale of the campaign “Visit Zambia 2005”. But again it’s the beginning of the more exciting times for Zambia safari.

What will happen?

An estimated 40,000 international visitors and safari enthusiasts will arrive in Livingstone, Zambia in November 2005. They will be here to commemorate a number of centenaries and the sighting of the Victoria Falls.

1. Livingstone City was established in April 1905,
   
2. The Victoria Falls Bridge was completed in April and commissioned in September 1905,
   
3. The Seventh Day Adventist church was established in Zambia in April of 1905,
   
4. The Jesuit Fathers of the Catholic church established two missionaries: Chikuni in Monze and Kasisi in Lusaka in August of 1905.
   
5. The Baptist Church union was established in Zambia in August 1905.
   
6. The 100th birth day for the late Secretary General of the United Nations, Dag Hammerskjeold, who died in a plane crash at Ndola, Zambia on September 18, 1961.
   
7. and the 150 years since Dr David Livingstone discovered the Victoria Falls.

Wow… and that’s quite a few centennials!

The Livingstone Events Organisation (LEO) has set up activities that will culminate into the grand finale of the “Visit Zambia 2005” campaign on November 16, the day Dr Livingstone sighted the world wonder, the Victoria Falls, 150 years ago!

Zambia is taking special interest in this event. The world has been invited to celebrate with Zambian. The visitors will include the grand children and the great-grand children of Dr Livingstone. Now that’s a lot of ‘grands’ the “Visit Zambia 2005” campaign will take on board.

So far two of Dr Livingstone's great grand children Dr David Livingstone Wilson and Dierdre Nyasa Rolf Livingstone have accepted to come to Zambia.

According to the Livingstone Centenary Celebrations 2005, the 150 years anniversary celebrations of Dr Livingstone’s sighting of the Victoria Falls would be held on 15th and 16th November in Livingstone, a town closest to the Victoria Falls in Zambia.

Protea Hotels and Zambia Safari

The works for the multi-million dollar Protea Hotel in Livingstone is 70 percent complete. Andrew Burton project manager for Veros Enterprises has announced. The hotel complex will house a shopping mall with 17 shops, a restaurant and a fuel service station.

Burton said the shopping mall and car park would be ready by June next year while the hotel would follow later. “...upon completion the complex will provide Livingstone the tourist capital of Zambia with a variety of services and goods that are presently not in the city,” he said.

In the recent times Livingstone has seen a lot of construction. The tourist city is pulling in its share of investments, the latest being Chrismar Hotel which is currently being thatch-roofed. It’s located very close to the Musi-oa-Tunya National Park. The park though small is popular for being close to the Victoria Falls which is locally known as “Mosi-Oa-Tunya” and translates to ”the smoke that thunders”.

Another Protea Hotel is under construction at Lusaka’s Arcades shopping complex. The “visit Zambia” campaign is in top gear. So all and sundry are investing everywhere. Lusaka and Livingstone are taking the lead. But Siavonga on the Kariba lakeshore is not left too far behind.

Don’t miss out,..it’s getting “warm and worthwhile in Zambia.”

Lower Jet Fuel Price Boosts Zambia Safari

Last Friday, Zambia’s Energy and Water Development minister George Mpombo announced that the government had removed duty on jet fuel with immediate effect. Mpombo said the move was aimed at making Zambia’s jet fuel internationally competitive. His ministry’s long-term plan is to reduce the price of jet fuel further through liaison with the local airlines.

Aviation Association of Zambia (AVIAZ) president Jacob Chisela said yesterday that he was happy with the measure. Chisela believes that a low price will help promote Zambia safari. Being in south central of Africa Zambia is in a gateway position, the hub of African travel.

There are a lot of flights that traverse this country going South, East, North and West. The pilots will be glad to stop over for refueling. And the flights will pick up a few passengers too! It stands to reason that Zambia safari will be your first stop, and a one stop “safari shop” too.

...And Zambian tourism will benefit from the airline traffic from Southern Africa to the rest of the continent and the outside world.

AVIAZ plans to negotiate with the Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) supplying aviation fuel in Zambia to reduce the price further.

Then all will be happy and the tourism industry in Zambia will contently grow.

Lady Circle and Zambia Safari

Sylvia Mwansa vice president Lady Circle International (LCI) has ascended to the presidency of her global association. LCI operates in 36 countries worldwide. Lady Circle Zambia past president Rhoda Mulila said Mwansa has become the first Zambian to be elected to the post of President Lady Circle International.

Lady Circle is an association for professional and businesswomen. Its agenda is twofold. Promoting friendship and fellowship among members…and providing community service to the needy in society.

Mwansa has decided that in addition to her role as president she will support the Zambian tourism by promoting the “visit Zambia” campaign. She hopes to impact positively because her job will involve a lot of travel.

Zambia safari will get a real worldwide boost!

Like all other member associations Lady Circle Zambia has assisted the community. They’ve built, re-equipped and maintained the Tuberculosis ward at Mandevu Clinic and renovated and re-equipped Ward A 07 at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka.

Zambia Safari on Precious Stones

Zambian gemstone miners held a “Gemstone and Tourism Exhibition” at the Victoria Falls near Livingstone. The exhibition, the second organised by the Kalomo Miners’ Association (KMA) was funded by the European Union’s Mining Sector Diversification Programme (MSDP). 20 Zambian exhibitors were in attendance.

KMA vice-secretary Chief Kalembwe said they were holding their exhibition for the second time in Livingstone, Zambia’s tourist capital, to help promote the Visit Zambia 2005 campaign.

Kalembwe urged government, “The gemstone industry has got the potential to grow. The gemstone business can lift the economy of our country only if it is supported by government and other stakeholders.”

So besides tourism business opportunities also exist in precious stones. And for the market… The Canadian government has waived tariff barriers on least developed countries. And Zambian exports including gemstones to Canada have no tariff barriers.

Zambia is the leading producer of precious and semi-precious gemstones worldwide with varieties such as emerald, amethyst, garnet, tourmaline, citrine, among others. Most of the finished and semi-finished gemstone products are exported worldwide.

Namakau Kaingu chairperson of the Women in Mining Association (WMA) and Zambia’s special representative to the United Nations on women in mining attended the national event. Her opinion?

"It's NOW Zambia safari in precious tones."