In the 1970s, the Zambian Government continued their plans to improve infrastructure to support the tourism industry when visitor numbers climbed dramatically from 1969. Tourism was now seen as a way to create new jobs for urban dwellers and increase the attraction of rural areas and boost agricultural production.
The main attractions of Zambia were the abundances of wildlife and the Victoria Falls. A new airstrip was planned in the Luangwa Valley, one of the country’s most popular game parks.
In 1971, the Zambia National Hotels Corporation Ltd was founded as a parastatal organisation out of the hotel interests of the Industrial Development Corporation of Zambia Ltd (INDECO). Its objective was to manage the hotels taken over from INDECO and to open new hotels, either alone, or in partnership with foreign or local investors.
The Second National Development Plan of 1972 outlined a strategy to increase the tourism potential of Zambia. However, tourism had not become a major contributor to the Zambian economy. Zambia had realised that tourism was a highly sophisticated and delicate industry. In an effort to attract more tourists, low-priced group safaris and private safaris were introduced.
In 1973, the Government outlined plans to try and find new ways to increase tourism to earn foreign exchange and accelerate development while also protecting Zambian social and cultural values. A new structure and comprehensive training programme was planned for staff at the Zambian National Tourist Bureau. Local Zambians were also provided for with educational programmes.
Access to the country continued to be problematic. By 1978 Zambia only had ten intercontinental flights to Lusaka which was severely less than Nairobi with 87 scheduled flights. The Tanzania-Zambia railway link was seen as a way to draw more tourists to the country.
In 1979, the Zambian National Tourist Bureau became the Zambian National Tourist Board and became an autonomous statutory board that implemented all policies on behalf of the Zambian Government.
Topic Index
- Businesses
- Hotels, Clubs & Accommodation
- Postcards/Lettercards/Letter Folders
- Stamps and Postal Products (1970-1979)
- Stamp Designers
- Things To Do
References
- · Development Digest (1975)
- · National Policies for the Next Decade, 1974-1984 (1973)
- · Organisation of the Tourist Industry in Commonwealth Countries (1971)
- · Second National Development Plan, 1972-76 (1972)
- · Third National Development Plan, 1979-83 (1979)
- · Zambia, Economic Facts and Figures Investment Opportunities (1973