Preparation for the UNWTO intensify

Preparation for the UNWTO intensify

Livingstone, June 26, ZANIS…. Minister of Tourism and Arts Ms Sylvia Masebo says government has granted a waiver on visa to visitors from over 50 in countries while visitors from over 70 countries will require visas at the point of entry as part of preparation for the United Nations World Tourism General Assembly (UNWTO) to be co-hosted between Zambia and Zimbabwe in August this year.

And Ms Masebo said there is tremendously improvement in the works done in the preparations of the UNWTO.

Addressing a Tourism Operators and Business meeting held at Courtyard Hotel today, Ms Masebo said Government has made good progress in addressing the visa issue which is seen as a major hindrance to tourism growth.

Ms Masebo reiterated that government would continue to look at ways to increase the number of countries that would not need visas when visiting the country adding that where visas administration was difficult visitors feel lazy to travel.

“ I think as government will shall continue to look at the  visa regime and try to increase the number on countries that will not require visas when coming to Zambia through improvement in the internet connectivity,” said Ms Masebo.

She named   some of the countries that have been granted visas as, Dominican Republic, Botswana, Belize, Barbados, Ireland, Malawi, Malta, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Maldives, Kenya, Mozambique, Romania, Tonga Island, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Solomon Island, Samoa, Serbia,
St Helena, St Vincent  among others.

While  countries that need visas at point of entry included, Austria, Argentina, Britain, Canada, Bolivia, Belgium, Chile, Bulgaria, Angola United Sates of America among others.

And Ms Masebo has attributed  the tremendously improvement in the works done in the preparations of the UNWTO to improved coordination between the Local Organizing Committee and the National Organizing Committee as well as the timely release of funds  by the government for all the projects.

She expressed happiness that at achievement has made so far in infrastructure development, water supply and sanitation, internet connectivity, township electrification to improve security and improvement in health service delivery to prevent communicable and non-communicable diseases during and after the UNWTO.

Ms Masebo emphasized that government has prioritised health service delivery in the city in order to attract more tourist even after the event.

“We cannot attract tourists in Livingstone if we have a sick population so we have to improve on our health’s service s delivery so that we can attract more tourists,” .

“And Iam  very happy that that Local and the National Organizing Committees has been fully funded by the government and  there is improvement in the coordination of activities which was previsoly as a challenge,” said Ms Masebo.

She also said government will on its part continue to attract more investment in the tourism sector beyond the prestigious event in order to create job opportunities and reduce poverty and emphasized that need to involve the local community in the successful hosting of the
event.

Ms Masebo further called for painting of all remaining shop and business premises ahead of the event so that the city was clean