In an exclusive interview with VoyagesAfriq, Malawi’s Tourism Minister, Vera Kamtukule, provided insights into the upcoming 5th Malawi International Tourism Expo (MITE), also known as ‘Takulandirani’, scheduled to be held from April 25-27. Minister Kamtukule emphasized the significance of MITE as an annual event aimed at showcasing Malawi’s diverse tourism offerings and stimulating economic recovery post-COVID-19.
“Tourism has a great potential in terms of unlocking socio-economic benefits for our country,” stated Minister Kamtukule, highlighting Malawi’s gradual recovery from the pandemic’s impact. She expressed optimism about surpassing pre-pandemic tourism figures, attributing the resurgence to concerted efforts and the government’s prioritization of tourism alongside agriculture and mining.
A notable development leading up to MITE is the removal of visa requirements for citizens from 79 countries earlier this year. Minister Kamtukule underscored the significant impact of this policy change, citing an overwhelming response from global visitors. She emphasized the expo’s role in uniting stakeholders across various tourism sectors, including vehicle hires, hotels, restaurants, and tour guides associations.
Acknowledging the importance of collaboration, Minister Kamtukule outlined a holistic approach facilitated by an “all of government” strategy. This approach involves coordination with other ministries, particularly transport and finance, to address infrastructural challenges and taxation issues affecting tourism, such as air ticket costs.
Regarding economic contributions, Minister Kamtukule highlighted tourism’s role in bolstering foreign exchange reserves, citing recent religious events that attracted thousands of international visitors to Malawi.
“Just in December, from one church alone, they brought in 18,000 people into Malawi for a religious workshop – for crossover night. And there were several other churches that brought people into the country. So, collectively, about 20,000 to 25,000 came to Malawi in December alone to attend religious events. That is an additional number on top of the numbers that had come throughout the year. And those people are not Malawians and they brought forex into the country. So, for me, we are doing very well in terms of contributing to the forex cover of this country,” the Minister maintained.
With MITE experiencing a surge in exhibitors, exceeding last year’s count, Minister Kamtukule expressed enthusiasm for the expo’s potential to showcase Malawi’s tourism diversity and attract approximately 7,000 to 8,000 visitors over the three-day period.
In a strategic shift, MITE extended its duration to three full days, offering more opportunities for engagement and networking. Minister Kamtukule emphasized the importance of empowering small to medium enterprises (SMEs) within the tourism sector to leverage the expo for business growth.
“So my expectation is that the small to medium income enterprises are going to leverage on this opportunity that they are going have to showcase what they have to grow their business in our quest to improve tourism in our country,” she stated.
Furthermore, Minister Kamtukule emphasized the importance of regional integration, highlighting collaborations with neighboring countries such as Tanzania and Kenya. By fostering partnerships and cross-promotion, Malawi aims to capitalize on its unique attractions, including Mulanje Mountain and Lake Malawi, to attract a broader audience of international travellers.
She explained: “We have already agreed that we should be attending each other’s expos, because when somebody has made a decision to come from Spain into Africa, it is not cast in stone that they should go to Kenya alone, why don’t you give them a taste of Tanzania, a taste of Zambia and a taste of Malawi because what Tanzania has Malawi will never have but Malawi is the only country that has Mulanje Mountain, Lake Malawi that has over 1000 species of fish which is the largest number of fishes in any other water body in the world.”
With anticipation running high and preparations in full swing, the 5th Malawi International Tourism Expo promises to be a showcase of Malawi’s rich cultural heritage, natural wonders and hospitality, inviting visitors from around the globe to experience the warmth and beauty of the Warm Heart of Africa.
Story by: Samuel Obeng Appah
