More Local Particpation Need In Hospitality Industry

MINISTER of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources, Catherine Namugala has encouraged Zambians to venture into the hospitality industry.

Ms Namugala said Government is disappointed that many Zambians have not taken up the challenge to engage in the hospitality industry despite Government creating an enabling environment.

She said this in Lusaka on Saturday when a Zambian based in the United Sates of America (USA), Francis Chipili, called on her to unveil an ambitious tourism plan in the Northern Circuit.

“The Zambian government has created an enabling environment to encourage local people to participate in the hospitality industry, but the turn out is discouraging,” Ms Namugala said.

She said tourism is a lucrative industry which can cushion job losses in the mining sector and eliminate poverty in Zambia.

Ms Namugala said Government is determined to ensure that Zambians who want to venture in tourism entrepreneurship are funded through the Citizen Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC).

And Ms Namugala has bemoaned Zambia’s low bed capacity and called for increased construction of hotels for the country to maximise on the benefits arising from the 2010 World Cup to be held in South Africa.