What a tourist expect Is govt serious in promoting tourism?— P12 P2 Tourism, water: Drivers of Malawi’s economy — P14 2 SPECIAL PULLOUT THE NATION 27 SEPTEMBER 2013 3 PROTECTING OUR COMMON FUTURE by ALICK NYASULU MALAWIAN ECONO M IST BASED IN AUSTRALIA These are the hot institutions that are raising the bar in the tourism and A water sector: K A 1. Airlink UDE SIMW A -CL PH SE 2. Debonaires O 3. Sunbird J PHOTOGRAPH: A white elephant? A tourist lodge lies desolate at Nyika National Park 4. Bata Malawi’s sluggish 5. Palm Valley 6. Kara O Mula tourism industry 7. Likhubula Lodge or many years, tourism fragmented and its growth is One aspect that I find high grade joke in marketing, has been touted as a sluggish and many factors are irritating is how tourism is but such is the reality. It is time Fpotential replacement at play. marketed. I know that that Malawi established a tourism to dwindling tobacco Naturally, it is often quite government is now collecting authority and removed such 8. Hotel Masongola revenues, but it remains very easy to point fingers at a tourism levy from tour functions from the ministry uncompetitive in the southern government because it is operators in whatever form it altogether and do away with Africa region. It is a money some ambiguous institution. comes. It is unclear how these usual Capital Hill bureaucracy spinner in Kenya, South Africa, There are, however, many funds are used other than the in such a high-paced industry. 9. Tongole Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia other players in the industry perennial bus rides organised Any traveller or visitor will and Zambia yet these countries and the role of government is by the tourism ministry for naturally spend money as do not necessary offer unique simply to provide an enabling journalists across the country. they go to any destination. services that distract visitors to environment for entrepreneurs Other countries such as Usually, the cost aspect will 10. Mikoma Beach the Warm Heart of Africa. to invest in the industry. At the South Africa and Kenya have influence the decision to travel National planning strategies same-time, it is also imperative taken their tourism marketing, to a particular place. Malawi such as the Vision 2020, to recognise that tourists are at or call it advertising, to remains at a huge disadvantage Malawi Economic Growth the core of the industry. international channels such within the Sadc region and 11. Ilala Crest Lodge Strategy including its successor, Tourists are not in the CNN and BBC to put them on we cannot blame government the Malawi Growth and country for charities but seek the map. I do not think a mere entirely, but closely look at Economic Strategy (MDGS) value for money, and someone Ministry of Tourism website businesses involved in the and the Economic Recovery has to do a good job to attract that has nothing other than tourism industry. 12. Kalikuti Hotel Plan recognise tourism as a them or else there are many a strategic plan of a ministry Most businesses appear potential growth industry. alternatives available in other is enough to woo a potential However, the industry remains countries. visitor. I would consider it a PAGE 3 2 SPECIAL PULLOUT THE NATION 27 SEPTEMBER 2013 3 SPECIAL ESSAY PROTECTING OUR COMMON FUTURE What a discerning tourist expects PAGE 2 to misunderstand the very notion of a tourist. A tourist is not necessarily someone that has robbed a bank or won a lottery in millions of dollars. It is therefore foolhardy to expect potential visitors to our country to pay over US$150 for renting a 4x4 or US$200 for a hotel room when countries around us offer less than half for similar services. The average tourist is not a rich person, and somehow, it is enshrined in our thinking that all foreigners can be charged ridiculous prices for a simple reason of being “alien” to the country. Factor in horrible customer services for such expensive prices, it simply adds to the uncompetitive nature of the industry when compared to other countries in the region. It appears most tour operators are obsessed with get-rich- quick business philosophies and paint all tourists as extravagant spenders, yet the average tourist takes years to save for a dream adventure. Such a mentality makes Malawi an expensive destination and all the blame goes to government for not supporting local industries. Recently, the Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) put up notices regarding the national switch centre that will connect Y all banks to ease payments. RAR The national switch centre LIB ON I will see all banks connected at to international payments systems such as visa and master card from mid next year. One problem that still continues to hinder the growth N PHOTOGRAPH: of tourism is the unwillingness Foreign tourists enjoy a boat ride on the Shire River by businesses involved in consider the risks of tourists servants or some NGOs. tourism does not operate in a tourism to embrace modern, long as the product is well carrying heaps of a devalued It is time hotel owners vacuum, but rather in a very secure and convenient means packaged and marketed. For Malawi kwacha to pay for became more innovative in competitive East-Southern of payments or simply called many years, our version of services. designing products beyond Africa market. plastic money. tourism has been restricted The same can be said of conferencing or lodging and There ought to be services While the national switch to building resorts along the the Malswitch facilities. As target a much wider audience. that are properly packaged, centre will indeed connect shores of Lake Malawi of RBM gets the national switch It is not enough to say come convenient and affordable banks, a culture of cash seems varying standards, but often centre to a full functional and stay on the shores of Lake for the traveller. Some of the highly enshrined in how we mediocre customer service. facility, businesses that Malawi if the tourist does questions we need to answer transact business, and is not Most resorts along the trade transparently and know how to swim or fish. include what tourists will see attractive to tourists from shores have taken to offer fairly, particularly in the While we consider tourism after lodging. It is not enough countries beyond. For example, very high prices, synonymous tourism industry can take full as an alternative industry to to build a hotel or a lodge National Bank of Malawi with city hotels whose sole advantage to accept all major replace dwindling tobacco and fail to get the visitors or introduced its visa branded survivors are business visitors credit cards as a way of easily revenues, it is important persuade them to try various point of sale purchases to the or civil servants. Similarly, attracting foreign tourists. It to realise that no tourist services through a network convenience of businesses and when government stops is not fashionable anymore to is compelled to visit this of operators that benefits a their clients. It is appalling conferences at the lake, hotel shift all blame on Capital Hill country. The onus really whole chain of players. that most businesses have not owners have cried foul citing for the sluggish growth of the remains on us to offer very There are lots of benefits in embraced the idea. You will loss of business. This smacks industry. competitive but world class networking and partnerships sometimes find business using of lack of innovation on the In any business, innovation services to the discerning as it enhances product excuses of a bad network to part of hotel owners whose remains important, and traveller set to explore our innovation. No one can go it force a customer to pay cash. business model is none tourism has a lot to offer as beautiful country. Malawi alone. It is simply a turn-off if you other conferencing by public T 4 SPECIAL PULLOUT THE NATION 27 SEPTEMBER 2013 PROTECTING OUR COMMON FUTURE ADVERTORIAL The Big Five in tourism YVONNIE SUNDU Staff Reporter In the area of tourism in Malawi, there is what is termed the Big Five. These are Pensacola Spur Steak Ranches, Debonairs Pizza, Play Land, Manosalwa Food Industry and Chen One, all in Lilongwe. Spur Steak Ranches is the franchise restaurant under the Big Five. It is an eatery in town that boast of Burgers, Ribs, Chicken and Steak. You can enjoy every day at Spur through promotions that are: On Mondays “Buy one Burger and get another for free” On Wednesdays “Kids Eat Free”. “From Monday to Thursday we have Lunch Promotion for only K1 800 for a meal. There are more promotions on the way”, according to Managing Director Umair Hussain. Next to it at the City Mall is A billboard in Lilongwe advertises Debonairs Pizza another franchise restaurant, Debonairs Pizza. is famously known in for its snacks,” he explains. entertainment centre in country like in Blantyre. We “This is one of our key crunchy snacks under the After a hard working week, Malawi with bumper cars and would like to provide the best companies under these five brand Dizzy. one deserves to relax on computer games. It is the best in town for all people,” says having the best pizzas in town. “Dizzy snacks are in different games. One deserves to spend place to be for both the young Hussain. Again, every Monday, when flavours and types under the weekend with children. and the old, while enjoying For all your fashion needs, you buy one large Debonairs Manosalwa and our tasty Play Land is one entertainment computer games and cruising Chen One is there for you.