Tourism key for economic revival—Egyptian envoy
Egyptian Ambassador Maher El-Adawy has described the Malawi tourism industry as a trump card that can revive the economy, if travel agents work hard and find creative ways of marketing Malawi.
The envoy was speaking as a guest of honour at an annual general meeting for the Travel Agents Association of Malawi (Taam) at Sunbird Nkopola Lodge in Mangochi on Saturday.
Some 80 travel agents and tourism industry professionals attended the meeting, whose theme was Facing the Future With Hope.
cooperate with Malawi
“There is a huge potential in Malawi in the field of tourism. But there are many people around the world who do not know about the potential and opportunities in the field of tourism in Malawi,” El-Adawy stated.
He urged the travel agents to work hard in facilitating a vibrant tourism industry, which can turn around the economy, especially as it is sailing through turbulent times.
Declared El-Adawy: “Egypt is willing to cooperate with Malawi in trying to send this pro-Malawi marketing message all around the world. The unreached people must know that Malawi has a huge potential, with a lot of possibilities.
“But you people have to work hard here, for hope, opportunity and potential must be coupled with work. Things will not happen by themselves and you cannot depend on other countries doing it for you.”
He stressed that Malawi outshines many competitors in the tourism industry through rare national characteristics, which include having a democratic system, enjoying unbroken peace and harmony and outstanding and hospitable citizens.
Malawi and Egypt last April signed a mutual tourism promotion Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Officials from the two countries met in the United Kingdom two weeks ago, when a proposal on how Malawi plans to scale up its tourism industry was discussed.
Giving his keynote speech at the meeting, the then visiting chair of the Kenya Association of Travel Agents, Shafi Kaka, called for greater unity and collaboration in, and among, grassroots organisations, regional bodies and their global powerhouses, the International Air Transport Association (Iata) and the United Federation of Travel Agents’ Association (Uftaa).
“Together, the travel agent community, through its association, must work closely with Iata and the airlines to lobby government and the local civil aviation authorities to create a better and stronger environment for all stakeholders,” Kaka stated.
He said at the recent Uftaa conference, he experienced the power of regional collaboration when Malawi played a pivotal role in securing Sub-Saharan Africa’s first seat on the Uftaa Board, after Taam president Ken Banda withdrew his nomination and supported Kaka’s nomination instead. n
The Government of Malawi has been told for 50 years that Tourism can help the economy. The Lakeshore is however sitting idle while they beg for donor aid. The Lakeshores are dangerous volatile areas as the Locals claim those places as their own. I will hasten to warm any serious Investor not to attempt to invest in Malawi and especially stay away from the Lakeshore and the Tourism Sector as the Government has never been serious about Tourism. Furthermore, the country does not offer much for tourism. There are no great Game Parks. The beaches are average when compared to those found in Mozambique and Tanzania!..
The country is unimaginably corrupt, lawless and dangerous!
DON’T BE FOOLED WITH THEIR BIG SMILES AND INVITATIONS to invest..
Your investment could even be stolen from you as this has happened to some
investors in the country.