Tourist Arrivals Go Up Up!

Zambia National Tourist Board (ZNTB) is an organ of the government of Zambia charged with marketing tourism. It’s public relations officer, Mbo Kamanga, has confirmed the increase in tourist arrivals in Zambia. Preliminary figures indicate a 41 per cent increase during the first quarter of 2005. The “Visit Zambia 2005” marketing campaign is bearing fruit for Zambia safari.

ZNTB’s main responsibility is to market Zambia’s safaris and tourism, to register tourism enterprises, enforce standards in the industry and ensure compliance of the World Tourism Organisation (WTO) and Regional Tourism Organisation of Southern Africa (RETOSA).

But where are the tourists coming from? South Africa accounted for the highest at 31 per cent, followed by Zimbabwe, Britain, United States, Germany and Australia. But local tourists are hot in pursuit too. There is a general reawakening in local interest in safari destinations in Zambia.

106.4 per cent entered Zambia through Chirundu on the border with Zimbabwe. The border post at Kariba Dam (with Zimbabwe) recorded 26.4 per cent, Livingstone Airport (international visitors) 11.1 per cent, Katima Mulilo 10.3 per cent and Mfuwe Airport recorded a 7.3 per cent increase compared to the first quarter of 2004.

51,097 tourists visited Zambia in the first quarter of this year compared to 36,386 in the first quarter of 2004.