President Edgar Lungu has ordered the re-opening of the Victoria Falls World Heritage Site to the public with a call for adherence to Covid-19 health guidelines.
Speaking after touring the iconic tourism site in the company of Tourism and Arts Minister Ronald Chitotela this afternoon, the President said there is no need to keep the tourism sector suffocating because of the closure of important tourism sites like the falls despite Livingstone not recording a single case of the new corona virus.
He said his Government wants to see the tourism industry slowly but surely getting back to normal and contribute to the country’s economic earnings.
Dr. Lungu said bemoaned the fact that there were no tourists at the site despite it being at its peak this year after several years of low water levels.
And Hon. Chitotela has said the reopening if the falls is a presidential directive which his Ministry will follow and implement to revive the chocked tourism sector.
He said he had received several requests from different sector players to look into the plight of people working in tourism who are almost losing their much needed tourism jobs.
The Minister called on tour operators to change strategies by reducing reliance on the international tourist arrivals and giving incentives to domestic tourists as as a way to help the sector to recover.
And the Livingstone Tourism Association Chairperson Rodney Sikumba said the association welcomes the reopening of the Victoria Falls with special rules now called the new normal by His Excellency the President. The LTA looks forward to a slow but measured way forward for the tourism industry in particular the domestic market.
Mr. Sikumba lamented at the adverse effects the Coronavirus (Covid-19) had on the sector, and reopening of the Victoria Falls would assist businesses earn revenue in Accommodation, water based activities and Curio sales.
The Falls was indefinitely closed to the public on March 28, 2020 following the outbreak of the Coronavirus.
Source: Open The Victoria Falls World Heritage Site, Orders President Lungu! (12/05/20)
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