By BRIAN HATYOKA –
THE Livingstone Tourism Association (LTA) has called for concerted efforts in lowering of air fares to encourage Zambians to use air transport.
LTA chairperson Alexander Mutali said there was need for the Government and operators in the tourism industry to seek ways of making air travelling affordable.
Mr Mutali said in an interview in Livingstone yesterday that air travelling was expensive and yet it was the most convenient and effective mode of transport that could largely assist in the promotion of domestic tourism.
“If we are to reinforce domestic tourism, we must make air travelling affordable for our people.
“ For instance we are talking of people coming to Livingstone to see the Victoria Falls and sample other tourism products from Lusaka, Copperbelt, Northern, Luapula, Muchinga, Central, North-Western, Western and Eastern Provinces.
“We must open up skies and bring in other competing airlines so that they assist to bring down airline fares,” he said.
Mr Mutali further called on the reduction on certain taxes so that investors who are interested in the airline business can start operating in Zambia and subsequently promote domestic tourism.
He also called for the quick repairing of the Mazabuka- Kafue road to promote domestic tourism.
Mr Mutali said majority of Zambians were travelling by road, which was a cheaper mode of transport, but due to the bad state, they turn to slow down business activities for local people.
“The Mazabuka to Kafue road as well as Sesheke to Kazungula roads have been hindering tourism as both roads are in a bad state.
“We need to make Livingstone, which is Zambia’s Tourist Capital, very attractive by improving on the road networks to the city,” he said.
Mr Mutali also called for the creation of a Multi-Facility Economic Zone (MFEZ) in Livingstone to rejuvenate the economy.
He said there was need for the country to emulate Zimbabwe which had introduced an economic zone from Victoria Falls town to Kariba.