Zambia showcases tourism potential at Turkey exhibition

Zambia was among 32 African countries that showcased their tourism potential at a grand tourism exhibition in Turkey over the weekend, according to a statement.

The African countries, with embassies in Turkey, showcased the continent's untapped tourism potential during the exhibition which was targeted to stimulate increased tourist-arrivals in Africa.

Miriam Mulenga, Zambia's Ambassador to Turkey said in the statement that the exhibition would have a positive bearing on Zambia's tourist arrivals from Turkey.

Among some of Zambia's iconic tourism flagships that have been exhibited was the Victoria Falls, one of the world's seven wonders.

Rifat Hisarciklioglu, the president of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey stressed the need for Africa and Turkey to create a common platform to enhance networking for best practices in tourism development.

The Zambian government has placed the tourism sector as one of the priority sectors to spur economic growth and to reduce the dependence of the economy on copper.

Minister of Tourism and Arts Jean Kapata said recently that the tourism industry was forecasted to create 300,000 jobs annually and to reach more than one million tourist arrivals by 2017. Endit