Chakwera upbeat on one million jobs drive, says tourism has potential to grow Malawi’s economy
President Lazarus Chakwera says the tourism sector has great potential to contribute to the social and economic growth of the country.
Chakwera made the sentiments on Friday in Blantyre when he officially opened the Sogecoa Golden Peacock Hotel.
He said the tourism industry is one of the key priorities in his Tonse Alliance-led Government considering that it has potential to drive the country’s economy.
“The Tonse Government philosophy is to see that the economy grows and that the country develops.
“It is for that reason that we are committed to revitalize the tourism industry with the resources available within,” he said.
Chakwera said the prioritization of the tourism sector is part of the creation of one million jobs as it will boost businesses and create new jobs in the process.
“The one million jobs Dr. Saulos Chilima and I promised are not jobs in the future but jobs in the making.
“We want to establish businesses that will employ the youth and businesses that will grow the country’s economy,” he said.
He said his administration has outlined plans that would improve the tourism sector which include development of airport infrastructure to international standards in order to make the country’s tourism competitive.
Chakwera added that potential investors have already started showing interest in the tourism sector, citing the US$10 million (over MK7.55 billion) donation from the African Development Bank to help revive the industry in Malawi.
The President then thanked management of Sogecoa for building a multi-million dollar hotel, which he said, will improve the face of Blantyre City and increase the volume of tourism.
However, Chakwera cautioned investors in the tourism sector against importing labour when the country has potentially qualified people who can do the same work at the hotel.
“Let me give a stern warning to you owners, we know this is your hotel, but I urge you to hire Malawians as well.
“No one should imagine that we will tolerate it here that you even give menial jobs to foreigners because it does not happen anywhere in the world,” he said.
The First citizen also asked management of Sogecoa to consider building hotels in the Northern Region and along the lakeshore like in Mangochi and Salima to further boost tourism.
He, therefore, urged the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Wildlife, to create conducive environment for investors in the sector.
Earlier, the minister’s portfolio, Michael Usi, said the tourism sector contributes about six per cent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Usi further said the sector has the capacity to create businesses and jobs, adding that it is the catalyst to unlocking economic activities in agriculture, health and sports among others.
The minister, however, expressed concern over the loss of 35,000 jobs due to Coronavirus as a result of travel restrictions imposed by various countries across the world. He said government remains expectant that as the disease ends, the sector will rise again.
Deputy Chinese Ambassador to Malawi, Wang Xiusheng pledged continued support to economic growth of the country.
He expressed hope that the bilateral relationship between the two countries would grow from strength to strength and that the new hotel could bring new wealth to Malawi.
Managing Director of Sogecoa Golden Peacock Hotel, Mike Zhang said the hotel will give influence to the Malawian tourism industry and beyond. He thanked government for creating an enabling environment for the project to flourish.
The Project has run for 29 months at the value of US$60 million [an equivalent of K45 billion].
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We are tired of rhetoric just tell us where to apply for the jobs. While us will be struggling but you have people like Ntumodzi favoured.
As long as high end lodges are being torched to the ground, forget the idea of foreign tourists and investment proping up the Malawi economy or jobs. Such naive thinking!
To stimulate tourism in Malawi is not an easy battle. Our holiday resorts and tour companies are extremely expensive for what a tourist gets plus the flights to Malawi are extremely expensive. This is in comparison to destinations Like Kenya, Tanzania South Africa etc. Maybe we need to focus on where we have a competitive advantage
The hotel you have visited came about because someone was in the same office that you are and used it to negotiate with investors. Paja inu mwati mutsekula job centers in all the regions of Malawi to create 1 million jobs. Look at Salima Sugar factory, how many Malawians got jobs there. A country like Malawi, never develops because of its citizens. It is the investors, who probably come from abroad that’s develop a country. Your young pioneer guy is busy chasing these investor and you expect to create hotels like those? I will be surprised if this kind of… Read more »
Beware of Michael Usi in the Tonse Alliance government. He is a snake in the glass. He is full of lies and conspiracies. He destroyed ADRA Malawi with such. Ask his co-conspirator, the so called Dr Tayo the head of ADRA Africa region. Or locally, dig deep, you will uncover the truth.You have been warned.
Be
Celebrating Apms development. Tonse has zero development, 1 million jobs nowhere to be seen.