Reports reaching our desk indicates that Minister of Tourism Michael Usi and officials from his ministry have stormed Golden Peacock in Blantyre to close it down for failure to pay it’s 2022 Tourism License.

According to the ministry, the licenses were due in January 2022.

Officials from the ministry claim several restaurants, lodges and tourism spots in the region are yet to service their obligations.

This follows similar exercise that ministry took last week in Lilongwe which resulted to closure of Korean Garden Lodge, Crown Hotel, Lalala’s Eating Place at City Mall, Our Place Guesthouse in Area 15 and a restaurant at Lilongwe Sanctuary for failing to pay licencing fee.

Usi said they are closing down tourism enterprises that are failing to comply with provisions of the Tourism and Hotels Act.

He said a total of 1,123 were recommended for a 2022 Tourism and Hotels Board Licence but only 627 have paid for their licences.

-Zodiak-