No Threats of Victoria Falls Deregistration by UNESCO

ZAMBIA Tourism Board (ZTB) has reacted to earlier concerns about the state of the Victoria Falls being threatened for deregistration from UNESCO World Heritage list.

“Victoria Falls are not going to be deregistered from the World Heritage UNESCO list. We have in fact submitted the report on the state of the Victoria Falls to UNESCO. You can best be assured that there is no threat, there is no risk. We are even planning to push for more World Heritage Sites to be enlisted especially in the lower Zambezi which is rich in ecology.” ZTB’s Chief Timothy Mushibwe said

Mushibwe made the assurance while responding to a question from Gill Staden, publisher of the Livingstonian, a weekly publication. Gill Staden wanted to know the state of the Victoria Falls which was under threat of deregistration by UNESCO.

Mushibwe guaranteed tourists and the Zambia tour operators that the Victoria Falls was not under any threat of deregistration from the World Heritage list by UNESCO.

The deregistration concerns come following the continued attacks on tourists in Livingstone through muggings along the Mosi-oa-Tunya Road near the Falls.

Zimba-Livingstone road project for completion

Mushibwe has also assured the tourism players that government has stepped up efforts in ensuring that the Zimba-Livingstone road project is completed.

“There is commitment on the part of government that the infrastructure that supports linkages of feeders into the national parks and the Victoria Falls are addressed. There is focus to complete the route which we expect will ease movement, bring down costs of doing business in tourism and promote tourism in the country,” he said.

Source: No Threats of Victoria Falls Deregistration by UNESCO (14/06/10)