By BRIAN HATYOKA –
ZAMBIA’S tourism sector is projected to create about 300,000 jobs by next year as a result of the continued growth the sector is recording, Tourism and Arts Minister Jean Kapata has said.
Zambia’s tourist arrivals are expected to reach the one million mark next year, which will in turn create more job opportunities.

. Kapata

Ms Kapata said that Zambia had in the past few years witnessed a steady increase in tourist arrivals from 812,000 in 2008 to 920,000 in 2011.
Ms Kapata was speaking in Livingstone yesterday during the launch of the national commemoration of the United Nations World Tourism Day (WTD).
This year’s WTD was being celebrated under the theme ‘One billion tourists, one billion opportunities’.
Prior to the WTD, Livingstone hosted a number of activities during the Tourism Week to create awareness on the important role of tourism.
Ms Kapata said the steady increase of tourist arrivals had also seen the proliferation of hotel establishments for the hotel industry increasing from 1,000 establishments in 2010 to 1,120 two years later.
The holding capacity of the hotel establishments also increased from 19,000 bed spaces in 2010 to 22,000 in 2012.
She said with the current decline in copper prices on the international market, tourism was among the alternative sectors that could still diversify economic growth.
“In terms of employment levels in Zambia, the sector employed 44,292 in 2012 from 20,000 in 2011.
Tourism remains one of the world’s leading employers and provides important livelihood opportunities, thus helping to alleviate poverty and drive inclusive development,” Ms Kapata said.
Southern Province Minister Nathaniel Mubukwanu urged stakeholders in the tourism sector to be action-oriented and create meaningful jobs for the local people.
Mr Mubukwanu implored Zambians to take advantage of the theme for this year’s WTD to exploit various opportunities in the sector.
In a vote-of-thanks, newly-crowned Miss Tourism Zambia Brenda Thijssen thanked Ms Kapata and the Government for honouring the people of Livingstone by hosting the 2015 WTD celebrations.