Minister of Tourism, Rodney Sikumba has called for the speedy implementation of the Zambia Green, Resilient and Transformative Tourism development project in order to enhance sustainable growth in the tourism sector.
Mr Sikumba says the quick implementation of the ambitious World Bank (WB) tourism development project, will spur and rejuvenate the country’s tourism sector.
He was speaking during the Green Resilient and Transformational Tourism Development Project (GREAT-TDP) WB implementation mission meeting in Lusaka today.
Mr Sikumba has since called for a multi-sectoral approach from line Ministries and other stakeholders in propelling tourism development in the country through the project. “This meeting marks the beginning of a collective journey towards the successful implementation of the tourism development project, which is being supported by our all-weather friends, the World Bank,” he said.
The Tourism Minister added that the five-day tourism development project meeting with the World Bank team, aims to fortify an enabling environment, bolster access to resilient infrastructure and cultivate economic opportunities in emerging tourism destinations.
He explained that the project encompasses three vital components, namely, the enabling environment for nature based economy, improving climate resilient destinations and project administration and management.
Mr Sikumba has also thanked the World Bank for its continued collaboration and support to Zambia in many areas of the economy, saying the tourism development project will accelerate the tourism sector once implemented.
He noted that the project seeks to revolutionise tourism in emerging destinations of the country.
And Ministry of Tourism Permanent Secretary, Evans Muhanga, says the meeting has a collective commitment to implement the tourism development project in a bid to make 2024 a year of significant progress.
He mentioned that the journey of the tourism development project commenced in 2023, marked by the identification and preparation of the effective project initiation.
Early this year, the World Bank provided a credit of US$100 million for a green, resilient and transformational tourism development project to the Zambian government.
The meeting currently underway in Lusaka, will devise and chat the way forward on how best to implement the project.
