Malawi slumps on tourism index

Malawi has slumped three steps on the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2013 Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI).

The country has moved to 124 from 121 out of 140 countries, according to the recently released report with an overall score of 3.2 out of seven, a decline from a previous 3.3.

The report comes at a time government is implementing an Economic Recovery Plan (ERP) with tourism as one of the priority sectors.

 But director of tourism Isaac Katopola last week could not immediately comment on the progress tourism as a sector has registered towards the achievement of the ERP targets, arguing he had to consult relevant authorities.

The 2013 report titled, ‘Reducing barriers to economic growth and job creation,’ measures factors and policies that make it attractive to develop the sector in different countries.

“Encouraging the development of the travel and tourism sector is all the more important today given its important role in job creation, at a time when many countries are suffering from high unemployment,” reads the report in part.

It notes that although the TTCI is based on three broad categories of variables that facilitate or drive travel and tourism competitiveness.

The categories are summarised into the three; regulatory framework, business environment and infrastructure and human, cultural and natural resources.

In the 2013 report, Malawi is ranked 115 on regulatory, 135 on business environment and infrastructure and 113 on human, cultural and natural resources.

In the region, the TTCI ranks Malawi below all countries, but Mozambique, Madagascar and Lesotho.

In the region, Seychelles tops at 38, Mauritius 58, South Africa 64, Namibia 91, Botswana 94, Kenya 96, Rwanda 105, Zambia 108, Tanzania 109, Zimbabwe 118, Swaziland 119 and Ethiopia at 120.

Globally, Switzerland tops with a 5.66 score and Haiti is at the bottom at 140 with an index of 2.59.