The Zambia Tourism Agency (ZTA) has revealed that it has generated over 1.5 million Kwacha in revenue from January to June through licensing.
ZTA chief Executive Officer Felix Chaila says the amount is in addition to the five million Kwacha collected since the exercise started in 2017.
Mr. Chaila says the Agency has also inspected 607 tourism Enterprises as at June 2019.
He says businesses were found to have been operating without provisions of the law during random inspections in some selected parts of the country which necessitated the agency to embark on sensitization exercises around the country.
Mr. Chaila was speaking at a media briefing in Lusaka at the grading of the second hotel establishment in Lusaka as they are mandated to under Statutory Instrument number 14 of 2018.
The Grading Exercise was launched on the 16th of May 2019 when the first establishment was graded in Kitwe, 20 years after the last exercise was conducted.
The Agency Chief Executive Officer says they have so far received 21 grading applications comprising hotels, back packers, lodges and adventure companies saying this shows that the industry is ready to provide quality services with the help of the grading exercise.
He has appealed to tourism categories listed under the statutory instrument to apply for grading of their facilities in compliance with the law.
Speaking at the Same Briefing, Agency Director for regulation Silistor Cheelo says grading institutions will give market the Zambia as a Tourism destination as some institutions have previously lost clients due to lack of grading.
And Neelkanth Sarovar Premiere Hotel Lusaka General Manager Ranjeesh Kavil has commended the exercise saying the will enable institutions to ensure that they follow set standards and attract tourists into the country.
Categories:
Tourism & art