27 SEPTEMBER 2017 Investing in tourism for sustainable development—P2 Malawi tourism and the burden of climate change—P27 Reflecting on World Tourism Day—28 2 SPECIAL PULLOUT THE NATION 27, SEPTEMBER 2017 SPECIAL ESSAY Special Essay by CHRISTOPHER NHLANE, News Analyst HOT INSTITUTIONS The following are N O I institutions and at organisations that are raising the PHOTOGRAPH:N bar in sustainable Mulanje mountain has become a tourist attraction tourism: 1. Beach Villa 2. Crossroads Investing in tourism for 3. Dorvic Hotel 4. Globe Internet 5. Grace Bandawe sustainable development 6. Hotel Masongola he United Nations General percent of the gross domestic hence the need for government A glimpse of the local tourism 7. Huccess Assembly (UNGA) recently product (GDP). In contrast and other stakeholders to swiftly Malawi may not have the best Tadopted 2017 as the though, a 2017 Travel and Tourism identify workable strategies that world-class tourism gems in the international year of sustainable Economic Impact report released can help in uplifting the status world, but still remains a force 8. Kasungu Inn tourism for development. by the World Travel and Tourism quo of this revolutionary tool in to reckon with as far as global This underscores the closest Council (WTTC) suggests that the country. endowment of luxurious tourism 9. Grand palace link existing between tourism, the industry’s direct contribution Apart from just improving attraction sites is concerned. For 10. Lilongwe through its three key dimensions towards the GDP in 2016 was at economic growth, especially instance, the country has a large of economic, social and K138 billion, representing 3.4 in countries where it is well- pack of wildlife and vegetation Worldlife Trust environmental sustainability and percent of the GDP. It is expected embraced, the UN further (flora and fauna), as well as the development of both global to rise by 4.9 percent in the next suggests that tourism has a direct other forms of leisure, including 11. Mafumu Lodge and national economies. decade, according to the report. bearing on all its 17 Sustainable adventure and cultural attraction According to the United Nations WTTC is the global authority Development Goals (SDGs) which which offer historic experiences 12. Woodlands World Tourism Organisation on the economic and social aim at improving the quality of to visitors who come to appreciate (UNWTO), which is one of contribution of travel and tourism. people’s lives, strengthening the nation’s beauty. 13. Ministry of the United Nations (UN) arms Therefore, the impact of environmental protection and Other key tourism spots in the Tourism responsible for the promotion tourism on Malawi’s development safeguarding cultural heritage in country include Nyika National of responsible, sustainable and can never be overemphasised, countries like Malawi. Park in Rumphi District which is 14. Riverside Hotel universally accessible tourism, the country’s biggest sanctuary tourism is currently one of the l Tourism began on July 5, 1841 when of wild plant and animal species, 15. Sana Food Court fastest growing economic sectors Thomas Cook organised a trip from as well as home to the biggest in the world, and is also the third population of leopards and zebras, Market Harborough to Loughborough for 16. Simama Hotel largest global export industry after TS among others. Lake Malawi, chemicals and fuels. C a temperance meeting. Africa’s third and the world’s 17. Skyband In Malawi, the sector remains ninth biggest lake, is another the third largest foreign exchange fa l The word “tourist” has been in use darling for travellers who come 18. Sunbird earner after tobacco and tea. A from Africa and beyond. The fresh 2015 National Statistics Office since 1760 for individuals travelling for water lake meanders across the 19. Umodzi Park (NSO) report, for example, recreation. country’s three regions and home indicates that that year alone, the FAST to a variety of marine species such industry contributed over K220 l Tourism accounts for five percent of the as the popular and ever-delicious billion towards the country’s world’s economy. SUPPLEMENT economy which represents 7.2 PAGE 3 SPECIAL PULLOUT THE NATION 27, SEPTEMBER 2017 3 SPECIAL ESSAY Toursim can benefit the country PAGE 2 Chambo fish. In the Southern Region, there is Mulanje Mountain which offers a dose of relief to all holiday-makers who adore mountaineering adventures. But more significantly, the 17 million Malawians are the country’s own biggest tourism asset – always smiling, cheerful and welcoming. No wonder the country, fondly known as the Warm Heart of Africa is widely known for conveying friendliness even to strangers. N O I The industry’s at challenges and global trends Although government continues to take so PHOTOGRAPH:N much delight in Malawi’s “thriving” tourism industry, the country continues to N O slide down on the list of I at countries dominating the global rankings for both tourism and poverty. A Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index N PHOTOGRAPH: (TTCI) report released Different types of animals are found in Nyika National Park recently by the World Economic Forum (WEF) commends Malawi for including the United States instance, government boost investment and Among others, Mutharika ranks Malawi on position 123 performing well in other of America.” has of late introduced a reduce costs on hotel fees. cited the introduction of the out of 136 world economies key points of reference According to the WEF number of incentives He said: “We want more Tourism Marketing Strategy that were measured for such as safety and security, Travel and Tourism aimed at boosting the hotels built in the county, which seeks to market competitiveness in 2016. international openness and Competitiveness Report sector’s growth and these hence this waiver to ensure Malawi locally, regionally This report also rates business environment. of 2017, Spain currently include a decision by the that investors, both local and internationally to Malawi disappointingly The country also scored leads the global tourism Malawi Revenue Authority and international, build increase direct tourism on some of the world’s remarkably well on price rankings followed by (MRA) to remove duty on standard hotels and lodges. investment to K50 billion key tourism benchmarks competitiveness compared France, Germany, United all building materials for We also believe that this annually. namely air transport to some Southern Africa Kingdom and United States all hotel, lodge and inn will prevent increases in Government recently infrastructure, health and Development Community of America, while South proprietors with a room hotel tariffs.” also established the hygiene and tourist service (Sadc) countries like Africa leads the sub-Saharan capacity of 50 and above In his State of the Wildlife Investigation Unit infrastructure. Botswana where tourism regional ranking and is on in order to improve the Nation Address (Sona) to help fight rising cases Over the years, Malawi rates are fairly higher. position 53 in the world. standard of infrastructure earlier this year ahead of of encroachments and has clearly failed to register However, economic in the industry. the National Assembly’s poaching besides restocking tangible improvements in experts largely attribute Incentives for the sector In a separate interview, passing of the 2017/18 some sanctuaries like the above targets and it Malawi’s continued Despite the challenges Minister of Finance, National Budget, President Nkhotakota Game Reserve does not come as a surprise. underdevelopment to the local tourism industry Economic Planning and Peter Mutharika expressed with about 260 elephants to According to the report, competitive rates which, faces, the Malawi Development Goodall his administration’s increase tourist patronage. last year, the Warm Heart they argue, negatively government continues in Gondwe disclosed that commitment to developing However, as ably of Africa earned over K260 affects tangible investments its quest to identify practical the motive behind MRA’s the tourism sector to suggested by UNGA, billion and hosted over 800 for boosting the sector. strategies that could decision to remove duty effectively contribute to Malawi will go on moving 000 international tourists Speaking to The Nation overturn the industry’s on selected hospitality the sustainable economic in circles and continue thereby creating over 200 in an earlier interview, misery for the better. For industry players was to growth of the country. realising insignificant 000 jobs in the proces. Chancellor College returns from the tourism As indicated by the WEF economics professor Ben sector unless it starts to report, Malawi, which was Kalua suggested that embrace tourism as an ranked farthest 126 out tourism rates should “We want more hotels built in the county, engine for sustainable of 141 global economies be revised to enable economic growth. One of measured in the previous government and other hence this waiver to ensure that investors, the ways to attain such a assessment edition of 2015, stakeholders facelift the goal is by investing more also scored a recurrent industry’s infrastructure. both local and international, build standard in the tourism industry to total aggregate of 2.9 out He said: “Tourism is facelift the structures such of seven points just like the not a small sector as often hotels and lodges. We also believe that this as roads and hotels for preceding score sheet two perceived in Malawi. This improved