LIVINGSTONE - Livingstone Central aspiring Member of Parliament Gracious Mayangwa has reaffirmed the importance of tourism in driving the development of Livingstone City, calling for greater benefits for the local authority and surrounding communities.
Speaking in an interview with Kalemba, Mr. Mayangwa said the growing number of tourists visiting Victoria Falls and Zambia's national parks should translate into tangible economic benefits for local residents.
He expressed concern that despite Livingstone's status as Zambia's tourism capital and the increasing number of tourist arrivals, the local authority receives little direct benefit from the city's biggest attraction.
Mr. Mayangwa argued that the Livingstone City Council should play a greater role in achieving the country's tourism targets, saying local authorities are key stakeholders in developing the city.
He called on hotels, tour operators and the local authority to strengthen collaboration in promoting tourism, improving recreational facilities and attracting more investment into the city.
The government is targeting more than 2.5 million international tourist arrivals and over US$1 billion in tourism revenue this year.
Mr. Mayangwa compared Livingstone's tourism assets to mining towns such as Kalumbila, saying communities hosting major natural resources should also benefit from the economic activity they generate.
He said tourism growth should create opportunities for infrastructure development, innovation, education, wellness, sports, food tourism and cultural preservation while ensuring environmental sustainability.
Mr. Mayangwa also revealed that he intends to engage both the government and the Livingstone City Council on implementing existing resolutions that recommend the local authority receive a share of revenue generated from tourist visits to Victoria Falls.
He urged residents of Livingstone to support his vision of inclusive leadership, saying collaboration between citizens and leaders is essential to unlocking the city's full tourism potential.