If it harms no one on government benches then i raise my hand and wish to put across a list of questions and concerns that i think if my esteemed Government benchers are not asked to have a look at them then 2014 will swiftly come knocking and Economic Recovery Plan will be pronounced a white elephant. I might not afford to regret as far as my love for the country is concerned because am around and tourism brings my food to table.
| HE JOYCE BANDA preaching Economic Recovery Plan |
I congratulate patriotically with no strings attched the government of Malawi via Ministry of Economic planning the leading vehicle on this convoy to implement this BLUE PRINT.I have gone through this blue print and with my narrow thinking if not ignorant on how books of economics narrate the opportunity cost and its consequenses i commend the brains that chose a few tools that may drive back our economy into the the right lane because we cannot have it all.
Choosing tourism into ERP under Medium Term Focus Areas will give Malawi the best eternal solutions to these economic woes.Here is what the ERP statement reads on tourism ;
Tourism has the potential to generate revenue, employment, improve infrastructure, and promote Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) as well as conserve wildlife and culture. The sector has direct linkages with other sectors of the economy. However, the industry faces a number of challenges which include poor supporting infrastructure, poor service delivery, uncoordinated and insufficient marketing of tourism products and inadequate purpose-built infrastructure.
The ERP Emphasises to promote the industry, by implementing:
a. Product development
Develop support infrastructure (electricity, water, transport);
Restock game reserves and national parks and protecting animals; and Restore and improve tourism assets, including supporting the restocking of game parks.
b. Tourism marketing and promotion
Intensify marketing of the country as a preferred tourist destination and aggressively,
put measures to increase flights to Malawi, including direct flights from Europe; and
Enhance marketing of Malawi ’s tourism products.
c. Institutional reform and capacity development
Undertake a program to train more staff, supervisors, and managers in the
tourism sector;
Simplify the system of visa issuance for tourists; and Improve tourism investment climate.
| Presidents Hotel in Lilongwe |
- NEWLY BUILD PRESIDENTS HOTEL: This blogger thinks it can contribute massively in the ERP,This blogger is kindly asking questions and more questions that if ERP is to explore and implement Short and Long Term economic remedies if you like then why are we holding jobs of about 1200-2000 or more (indirectly)Malawians because of "reading between the lines" issues yet we have learned Lawyers in this Country.Why is Government delaying such an opportunity if Malawians are to harvest from the sad April that brought this change of approach to thinking on economic recovery plundered in 2009.
- Why are state Lodges paying salaries ,water and electricity bills from government purse if privatising will bring revenue to capitol hill
- Why is Government not interested in a fare package of rates tailored for NATIONALS visiting our hotels in this case we will increase the traffic and change the attitude we dread of having Malawians shun our tourism centres afraid of digging deeper in these hard times.
- I have not seen any VEDIO AD on the media giants like BBC,PRESS TV apart from a very short and ordinary documentary on travel channel or ar we still marketing the old way,the way we used to do the things we did in Marketing.Witing for another Lake of stars.
- Malawi Broadcasting Corporation-STATE broadcaster runs no single documentary on rich tourism we have on our backyard
- Long term strategy-Introduce tourism in Primary School syllabus so that it should be known by the student that it is a clean and worthy career path to choose and a big contributor to the economy let alone an industry that rejuvinates the mind of good citizen after hectic season of work comes a vacation to refreshIt
- Government stop talking about Tourism and prioritise this industry by simply shifting its focus from tobbacco to Tourism A,B and C Shall be a walkover.Point C is a significant ERP tool if we really want traffic into the industry increased.Human resource ,knowledgeable staff will see continued tourists and foriegn exchange flow.
- As it seeks to improve the climate of investors it leaves the employee in the cold beacuse hoteliers and other tourism staff are still recieving poor salaries ,this initiative should be spelt clearly in the ERP.
