Malawi’s tourism minister woos tourists, investors in UK

Malawi Minister of Tourism and Culture Daniel Liwimbi last week urged tour and travel operators to promote Malawi as a tourist destination.

He said this is the best way to persuade tourists from Europe to generate the much-needed foreign exchange.

Liwimbi made the remarks at this year’s World Travel Market Cocktail reception the Malawi Government hosted at Excel Docklands, in London, United Kingdom (UK).

The reception was held alongside an exhibition which showcased Malawi’s tourist attraction sites, cultural values and artifacts that Malawians continue to revere. 

Liwimbi said currently, the UK contributes 10 percent to 800 000 international visitors to Malawi.

He said Malawi also intends to intensify its presence through promotional activities and travel campaigns, targeting the travel trade, media and consumers, among others. 

Liwimbi said Malawi is endowed with many tourist attraction sites, including the spectacular third largest lake in Africa, Lake Malawi, which has fresh water, long sandy beaches and about 1 000 species of fish endemic to itself. 

 “Malawi is endowed with breathtaking scenes such as mountains, rivers, valleys, the spectacular Mulanje Mountain and various plateaus, a number of game reserves, national parks with a variety of wild animals like tigers, elephants, lions, giraffes, duikers, hippopotamus, crocodiles, and snakes.

 “Malawi has a diversity of exhilarating flora and fauna, including the “Big Five” and many species of beautiful birds,” he said.

During the exhibition, the minister also launched the 2012/13 official directory of tourism services.

He said the directory will enable tourists to access information on Malawi’s tourism services with ease.

At this year’s World Travel Market, Malawi was represented by the Makokola Retreat, The Fisherman’s Rest, Ulendo Travel Group, Sunbird Hotels, Tongole Wilderness Lodge and the London-based Malawi Travel Marketing Consortium. 

The minister thanked Kenyan Airways for offering two tickets for the Raffle draw that took place at the event.—Mana