Govt seeks partners for airports construction
Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism Henry Mussa says government is looking for investors to help in construction of modern airports at Likoma, Nyika National Park, Mangochi and Blantyre under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.
The new airports are expected to boost tourism as some of them are located in tourist destinations such as Likoma and Mangochi in the Northern and Eastern regions, respectively.
In an interview in Lilongwe last week, Mussa said they want serious investors who can partner government in the construction of modern airports.
“What we want is for tourists to travel from their destinations straight to lakeshore resorts. We think this is one way to boost tourism in the country,” he said.
Cape Maclear Project promoter Bright Malopa said in an interview they are still looking for investors to fund part of the $2.6 billion (K1.9 trillion) project which is set to change the face of Cape Maclear in Mangochi and the wider tourism sector.
The Cape Maclear Initiative consists of three projects being conceived and pursued by the Cape Maclear Hotel and Golf Resort Limited and will be built around Cape Maclear.
“This is an ambitious project which will change the face of Monkey Bay and turn it into a mini city. Cape Maclear Resort Project will consist $750 million [K549 billion] touristic, leisure and residential project featuring five hotels, 700 serviced residences, a signature golf club and golf course, tennis academy, a marina, an aqua park, an aquarium, a cultural village and a major events arena. We want to have this project take off,” said Malopa.
Tourism, which is earmarked as one of the sectors that could help supplement earnings from tobacco which is fast losing its allure due to worldwide smoking lobby, contributes about seven percent to the gross domestic product (GDP).
