The government has reaffirmed its commitment to boosting the tourism and hospitality industry to increase the sector’s gains, as announced by Trade and Tourism Minister, Salim Bagus.

The news follows World Tourism and Travel Council (WTTC) figures showed that at 7.7% total tourism contribution to GDP, the sector’s economic activities generated by tourist firms, failed to grow from 2017 to 2019. The static record for 2 years has been addressed as worrisome since besides the low contribution towards GDP, the sector cannot provide jobs for itself as figures show that employment remains at 6.7% of total employment at about 525 000.

According to the minister, government was securing funds from potential investors to develop modern tourism facilities on Mulanje Mountain. “We want to have a cable car on the mountain to be used by both domestic and international tourists. It is high time we utilised the Mulanje Mountain for the benefit of the people around and Malawi as a whole,” Bagus said.

Main organisers, Mulanje Mountain Conservation Trust (MMCT), received the news with delight, stating that it is a way through which tourists could get to know of Malawi.