Tourism and Arts Minister Charles Banda is optimistic that the scraping off of visa for Zambians and Angolans will help boost the number of tourist visiting the country.

Last month, the Zambian and Angolan governments scrapped visa fees for citizens from the two countries.

This followed a visa exemption agreement between the two neighbouring countries.

Citizens now travel to and fro for a minimal period of 30 days and remain in the foreign territory for not more than 90 days.

Mr. Banda has also projected that the number of tourist’s arrival in the country will increase to about one million to three million tourists by 2020

The Tourism Minister says tourists coming from Angola will be encouraged to visit the country and this will in turn increase trade between Zambian and Angola.

Mr. Banda wants this move to be extended to other countries for improved trade as well as promoting tourism.