By Gif Chiponde

Lilongwe, September 28, Mana:  Minister of Tourism, Vera Kamtukule has emphasized the pivotal role of various sectors and partners in fostering and enriching the development of tourism in the country.

The Minister made the remarks on Friday during the observance of World Tourism Day held at the Ministry's Headquarters in Lilongwe.

She underscored that the Ministry was actively promoting diverse forms of tourism, including religious tourism, sports tourism, mining tours, agricultural tourism, and a variety of other offerings within the tourism industry.

"Initially, people perceived tourism as merely visiting the lake, but as a ministry, we have adopted a resolute approach towards advancing tourism development in the country," Kamtukule noted.

She viewed the importance of promoting lesser-known destinations that wield a significant influence in the tourism industry, expressing the Ministry's commitment to collaborating with various individuals and councils nationwide to promote such locales for tourism.

The Minister added that, “I may not be familiar with all the places in Malawi, but the ministry is dedicated to collaborating with individuals in different regions and District Councils to ensure that lesser-known destinations receive the visibility they deserve."

Mayor of Lilongwe City Council, Esther Sagawa, noted that the decentralization of authority from the Ministry to City Councils in managing certain tourism sectors would greatly assist the city councils in fully capitalizing on tourism development.

Head of Compliance at Standard Bank, Chikondi Kapyepye mentioned that the bank sponsored photography and poetry competitions as a means of showcasing the bank's dedication to promoting Malawi's tourism potential.

She emphasized that Standard Bank acknowledges the significant role that the tourism sector plays in the country’s socio-economic advancement, as it holds the potential to generate foreign exchange for the country.