Tourism Ministers of Kenya and Zambia have committed to removing bottlenecks that hinder growth in the tourism industry.
Kenya’s Tourism CS Peninah Malonza and her Zambian counterpart Rodney Sikumba further committed to strengthening cooperation.
Malonza said cooperation between the two countries will be strengthened through their respective institutions, responsible for the implementation of an MoU that the two countries have entered into.
“Aware of the role that tourism plays in our respective economies, we undertake to collaborate in the sub-sectors of the tourism industry in order to attain the desired results of socio-economic growth,” Malonza said.
She said the partnership and collaboration will play a significant role in bringing numerous benefits to both countries.
The CS said Kenya is keen to collaborate with its regional partners for shared prosperity in tourism, wildlife and culture.
She spoke in Nairobi on Thursday, during an extraordinary meeting of the 13th Governing Council of Parties to the Lusaka Agreement on Cooperative Enforcement Operations Directed at Illegal Trade in Wild Fauna and Flora.
Malonza cited the benefits to include enhanced regional tourism and intra-Africa travel; increased tourist arrivals; sustainable tourism development; economic growth and job creation, particularly for the youth, and capacity building and skills transfer.
Others are policy and regulatory harmonisation in order to reduce travel barriers between the two countries; cultural exchange and understanding; enhanced research and innovation; and improved tourism trade-in services between the two countries.
“Further, we are committed to approaching international tourism fora and meetings with common positions for mutual benefits. We reaffirm our commitment to remove the bottlenecks that hinder growth in the industry,” Malonza said.
Malonza said the two countries have developed terms of reference as guidelines to the Joint Implementation Committee, to execute the activities highlighted in the MoU.
“It is expected that this collaboration will strategically position our two countries as premier global tourist destinations and contribute positively to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP)," she said.