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THE 20th session of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) general assembly wrapped up business last Wednesday night at the picturesque Royal Livingstone Hotel in the city of Livingstone.
Zambia’s tourism capital is now trying to recover from the unprecedented human and motor traffic, and the sheer thrill that engulfed the resort town from August 24 to 29, 2013.
However, the spotlight has now shifted to the media’s coverage of the historic tourism indaba that attracted 121 out of 154 member states, attended by 145 countries, over 750 delegates and 900 media and private sector delegates, 49 ministers and three presidents.
The Zambia Daily Mail has singularly received praise from local and foreign readers for its extensive and informative coverage of the event.
The Zambian mission to Italy says the newspaper played its role of informing its readers of what was happening as well as marketing Zambia’s tourism locally and outside the country positively.
This is contained in a letter written by Zambia’s Ambassador to Italy Frank Mutubila dated August 29, 2013 addressed to Daily Mailmanaging director Isaac Chipampe.
“I would like to congratulate you on your extensive and informative coverage you gave to the just-ended UNWTO general assembly,” Mr Mutubila said.
“It is useful to us, as marketing our country is one of our assignments and no doubt this exposure from the UNWTO general assembly will go a long way in promoting our country and you have played your part positively,” he said.
Mr Mutubula said his office will publish a magazine to be circulated in Italy and Zambia.
He has invited the Daily Mail to do a comprehensive article to be published in the magazine.
The Zambia Daily Mail had a nine member crack team of reporters and editors covering the UNWTO general assembly headed by chief sub editor Chapadongo Lungu.
Other members of the squad were deputy news editor Kasuba Mulenga, senior reporter Nancy Mwape, reporters Kapala Chisunka, Kelvin Kachingwe and Nkole Chitala and photojournalist Mackson Wasamunu, with final edits in the Lusaka office.
Mr Chipampe was also in the tourism capital as a member of the UNWTO general assembly publicity and marketing sub-committee of the UNWTO general assembly national steering committee.
And acting Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services Fackson Shamenda has commended the Zambian media for the massive coverage of the gathering, which had put Zambia and Zimbabwe in the international spotlight.
To drive home his point Mr Shamenda, who is Minister of Labour, took journalists and other media practitioners who had played a role in the coverage of the event on a boat cruise on the mighty Zambezi River.
Meanwhile, a tour operator and lodge owner in Livingstone has commended the Daily Mail for adequately covering events that took place at the Organisation UNWTO general assembly, CHOMBA MUSIKA reports.
Livingstone and Victoria Falls town in Zimbabwe jointly hosted the 20th session of the UNWTO general assembly from August 24 to 29, 2013.
Livingstone Tourism Association (LTA) immediate past chairperson, Kingsley Lilamono said he is impressed with way the Daily Mail covered events during the general assembly.
Mr Lilamono described the coverage as “balanced and unexaggerated”.
“I was able to see the deliberations of the general assembly through the paper [Daily Mail]…the coverage of the event was quite inspiring…it was neutral and not exaggerated,” he said in an interview yesterday.
Mr Lilamono, who runs Lilamono Lodge, commended the media in general for the “favourable coverage of the general assembly”.
He said he is confident delegates to the assembly “through the eyes of the media’, have a good story about the country.
“The media did a good job…the news coverage was favourable for our country.
“We had delegates from different parts of the world and I am sure from the way the media was reporting, they [delegates] will spread good news about our county and in turn help attract more tourists,” Mr Lilamono said.
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