By Dyson Misoma
Malawi Institute of Tourism (MIT) and Amaryllis Hotel on Friday held a symposium where different stakeholders including the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS) and Malawi Institute of Tourism (MIT) students discussed topics meant to improve tourism sector in Malawi.
The symposium which was held under the theme ‘Innovation in sustainable tourism’ brought guest speaker such as Executive Director of Malawi Tourism Council, Memory Kanthunzi; Regional Tourism Officer for the South, Gift Mwale; Managing Director for Orbis DMC Limited, Innocent Kaliati, and Founder of Bon Voyage Club, Chimwemwe Nyirenda among others.
Mwale told Malawi News Agency (MANA) that the symposium was meant to empower local communities and enlighten the younger generation about the tourism sector through diverse strategies.
“Our core objective is to invest in new businesses that will boost tourism while advocating local people on the importance of investing in tourism and also imparting knowledge in the young generation for future impact,” he added.
In his remarks, Kaliati said tourism is an industry which keeps on evolving from one generation to another.
“Due to emerging technology, we have seen a lot of travel-tech companies, virtual reality and Artificial Intelligence (AI) coming up and as tourism businesses we need to adapt the change,” he said.
MUBAS student, John Nakhutho, commended organisers for providing an enlightening experience, saying the gathering was a learning forum.
“We have learnt a lot, both from the private and public sectors. We will use that knowledge in our respective study programmes and even after we graduate,” he said.
In Malawi, September is celebrated as Tourism Month with World Tourism Day set for September 27, focusing on the theme; Tourism and Green Investments.
