Whilst a number of industries in Malawi are experiencing a slump in infrastructure
development, the tourism sector continues to experience a boom. Over the years,
the Department of Tourism in the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism has
continued to register an increasing number of tourism businesses ranging from
tourist accommodation units, restaurants, events organising companies, travel
agencies, tour operators, among others.
Data collected by the Department of Tourism show that over 3,000 tourist
accommodation rooms were added to the tourism sector between 2012 and 2015.
Currently, 2000 additional rooms are under construction. In addition to hotel
rooms, 500 new tourism businesses have been registered and licenced in the past
three years.
It is also evident in the country’s major cities of Lilongwe, Blantyre, mzuzu and
Zomba that tourism superstructure has dominated construction projects. Whilst
investment in the sector have been more visible, a number of tourism facilities are
currently undergoing multi-million Kwacha refurbishment. The include Sunbird
Hotels & Resorts, Malawi Sun and the Makokola Retreat in Mangochi, which is
adding 14 luxurious more lodges some of which will have their own swimming
pool.
Crossroads Hotels have now two hotels in the country; in Lilongwe and Blantyre
with the Blantyre unit expected to open later this year. The hotel has an integrated
shopping centre with escalators, underground car park and restaurants whose
design is almost a replica of the Lilongwe Crossroads Hotel complex. The hotel
boasts 150 rooms.
With over 800,000 international tourists visiting Malawi every year the Malawi
tourism industry has great potential and scope for growth. According to current
statistics, about 77% of people that stay at hotels are local tourists with the rest
being foreign tourists. In the Southern Africa region, overseas tourists only
represent under 20% of international tourist with 80% coming from the region or
neighbouring countries. This phenomenon is prevalent in both developing and
developed countries all over the world.
The booming of the Malawi tourism sector is therefore likely to bring a lot of
benefits to the country which such as increased capacity to host more tourists,
increased job creation and foreign exchange, among other things. Currently, the
tourism sector is responsible for the creation of over 108,000 direct jobs and
266,000 indirect jobs. In terms of income, in 2015 the tourism and travel sector in
Malawi generated MK98.6 billion which represent 2.8% of GDP.
Other benefits that a booming sector would bring include development and
empowerment of Small and Medium Enterprises (MSEs) that supply the tourism
industry.
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