Zambia in tourists boom

Zambia recorded a 3.4 percent increase in international tourist arrivals in 2014 from 914,576 in 2013 to 946,969.

Tourism and Arts Permanent Secretary Stephen Mwansa in a statement to QFM News says from the total number of visitors in the year under review,23 percent came from Europe,America and Asia while 77 percent were from the African region.

Mr Mwansa further states that the total number of visitors to national parks increased by 6% from 77,282 visitors in 2013 to 81,962 in 2014.

He says South Luangwa national Park contributed 52 percent,Mosi-oa-tunya national Park 26 percnt,Kafue national Park 12 percent and Lower Zambezi national Park 11 percent.

Mr Mwansa says of the total number of 81,962 visitors to the national parks,57,097 were international visitors while 24,903 were domestic.

And Mr Mwansa says the Ministry is optimistic that the 1,000,000 international tourist arrivals target will be reached this year with the introduction of the Kavango Zambezi Trans-frontier UNIVISA between Zambia and Zimbabwe, the lifting of the Yellow Fever requirement and the expansion of the budget airline domestic routes in the country that will improve connectivity.

The UNIVISA eliminates the need for tourists visiting the two countries to have multiple visas thus making cross-border travel easier and less costly.