Minister of Tourism Vera Kamtukule has urged tourism operators to lower prices of their services to suit the Malawian audience to encourage more people to patronise their establishments.

She said this on Wednesday in Blantyre during a press briefing ahead of the National Tourism Month in September.

Kamtukule said it is important that tourism site operators focus on the domestic market by offering local tourists packages that are attractive and affordable.

“If we recall the time the country was going through the Covid-19 pandemic, the survival of the industry was contingent upon domestic tourists who anchored the sector by patronising the tourist attractions when foreign tourists couldn’t due to travel restrictions,” she said.

Kamtukule: Focus on domestic market

Malawi Tourism Council chairperson Justin Dzinkambani, while admitting that costs are on the higher side, asked government to consider more incentives to the sector to woo more players and bring competition.

He urged the government to provide necessary enablers for industry operators to enhance access to business facilities.

Said Dzinkambani: “Rates in most tourism attractions are indeed seen to be on the higher side, but it is because most of our materials are imported.

“As we play our part, we also seek government’s intervention to assist in creating a business environment that would enable the sector to thrive.”

On his part, Amaryllis Hotel general manager Ramy Waheed said their Blantyre-based hotel has already set up strategies to attract Malawians to visit the place, saying that out of 100 people who go to the place, 80 are Malawians.

He said they will continue to review and find innovative ways to offer the domestic tourists competitive and quality services.

“We have had a tough time indeed as a hotel, but the domestic market has helped us remain afloat. It is only fair that we give back and anchor the domestic tourists who have supported our business,” said Waheed.

Malawi Government recognises tourism as a priority sector that can be used as a vehicle for economic growth and poverty alleviation as outlined in the Malawi 2063, the country’s long-term development plan.

In the current financial year, Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs has introduced several incentives to promote investments in the sector.

These include zero import duty, zero import excise and zero value-added tax on the importation of a number of goods.

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