LUSAKA, July 30 (Xinhua) -- Zambia's tourism sector aims to attract about 3 million international tourists in 2025, driven by ongoing investments and recent growth, an industry official said on Wednesday.
During a meeting between tourism stakeholders and President Hakainde Hichilema, Mark O'Donnell, chairperson of Union Gold Group, a Zambian enterprise involved in sectors such as hospitality, retail, and construction, highlighted the positive trajectory of tourism.
In 2024, Zambia experienced a sharp increase in international tourist arrivals, rising from 1.3 million in 2023 to 2.2 million, according to the Ministry of Tourism.
O'Donnell emphasized that the tourism industry holds "significant" potential to become a major contributor to Zambia's gross domestic product (GDP), provided that existing bottlenecks are addressed.
He also called for policy changes to further stimulate growth in the tourism sector.
For his part, Hichilema acknowledged the sector's progress and underscored the government's commitment to its continued development.
"We may start by tackling issues that are standing in the way so that we open up the sector for more growth," he added.
