Kapata

By MAIMBOLWA MULIKELELA –

ZAMBIA will enhance its partnership with Asian countries to tap into that massive market, Tourism and Arts Minister Jean Kapata has said.

Ms Kapata said Government would continue to promote Zambian tourism products, saying that the Asian market offered opportunities for Zambian products.

She said in Seychelles where she is attending the Carnival International de Victoria that events like that one would enable Zambia tap into markets such as Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Cambodia, Vietnam, Brunei, Laos and Myanmar.

According to a statement issued in Lusaka by the Zambia Tourism Board (ZTB) public relations and media manager Caristo Chitamfya, Zambia was showcasing the Vimbuza dance as well as using the festival to promote the country’s 50th Independence celebrations to the carnival world-wide audience.

The design and branding of the Carnival Float has been sponsored by the ZTB which also used the Seychelles Carnival to educate stakeholders about the importance and economic value of festival tourism.

Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) special envoy for Seychelles Nico Barito said he would arrange for meetings and visits between Zambia and Asia to promote tourism products.

“We are ready to arrange meetings and visits between Zambia and Asian countries at the earliest opportune time and we have already been talking to an Indonesia businessman, who recently launched a fleet of 230 Boeing aircraft to consider investing in the Zambia-Seychelles partnership,” Mr Barito said.

He said there were a growing number of wealthy Asians who have become tired of American and European destinations and were now looking to countries like Zambia which offered unique products like wildlife safaris.