Tourism in Zambia relates to tourism in the African nation Zambia. The tourism industry is a major and growing industry in Zambia. Zambia has more than 2500 lions along with several National parks, waterfalls, lakes, rivers, and historic monuments. Zambia has been involved in several agreements on tourism with nations like Uganda and Kenya. Uganda Ministry of Tourism and Arts said Zambia is a model in tourism in Africa. Zambia Tourism Agency (ZTA) has partnered with the Government through the Ministry of Tourism and private sector to enhance the marketing aspect in the tourism industry.

Overview Zambia's tourism industry is one of the country's growth potential areas. It has been given the non-traditional export status and is receiving a lot of support from the Government by way of infrastructure development, promotion of increased private sector participation, as well as attractive tax incentives for all investments in the sector.

Hunting is also an important part of the Zambian tourist industry. Though the country banned all hunting in January 2013 amid concerns of corruption and over hunting of certain species, it legalized hunting again for most species of plains game in 2014. Additionally, the Zambian Tourism Minister announced that leopards may be legally hunted starting in 2015 and lions may be hunted again beginning in 2016.

Tourist Attractions +Major and Popular Tourist Attractions including their LocationsName of AttractionLocationClosest AirportNote(s)Victoria FallsLivingstone, Southern ProvinceHarry Mwanga Nkumbula International AirportOne of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Locally known as Mosi-oa-TunyaLake KaribaSouthern ProvinceHarry Mwanga Nkumbula International AirportWorld's second largest man-made Reservoir at 5,580 square kilometresLivingstone Crocodile ParkLivingstone, Southern ProvinceHarry Mwanga Nkumbula International AirportLivingstone MuseumLivingstone, Southern ProvinceHarry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport Country's oldest museum and holds letters & journals of David LivingstoneSiavongaSiavonga, Southern ProvinceHarry Mwanga Nkumbula International AirportMosi-oa-Tunya National ParkSouthern ProvinceHarry Mwanga Nkumbula International AirportKalambo FallsLuapula ProvinceMansa AirportLake BangweuluLuapula ProvinceMansa AirportLusenga Plain National ParkLuapula ProvinceMansa AirportNew office, gate and access roadLumangwe FallsLuapula and Northern ProvincesMansa AirportLargest waterfall wholly within the country, with a height of 30–40 m and a width of 100–160 mMumbuluma FallsLuapula ProvinceMansa AirportMusonda FallsLuapula ProvinceMansa AirportMweru Wantipa National ParkLuapula and Northern ProvincesMansa AirportNtumbachushi FallsLuapula ProvinceMansa AirportCascading Waterfall and pools stretching 2 km above 2 parallel, 10m wide, 30m deep main fallsSamfya BeachSamfya, Luapula ProvinceMansa Airport Dozens of kilometers of White Sand BeachChilambwe FallsNorthern ProvinceKasama AirportChishimba Falls Kasama, Northern ProvinceKasama AirportIsangano National ParkNorthern ProvinceKasama AirportFound in the Bangweulu WetlandsKabwelume FallsNorthern ProvinceKasama AirportLavushi Manda National ParkNorthern ProvinceKasama AirportFound in the Bangweulu WetlandsMoto Moto MuseumMbala, Northern ProvinceKasama AirportNsumbu National ParkNorthern ProvinceKasaba Bay AirportAirport is closed, under redevelopment, alternative for charter flights is Chisala Airstrip (June 2026).Kasaba Bay resort, Nsumbu NPNorthern ProvinceKasaba Bay AirportResort and airport are under redevelopment (June 2026).Kafue National ParkNorth-Western ProvinceKenneth Kaunda International AirportLargest national park in Zambia, covering an area of about 22,400 km2West Lunga National ParkNorth-Western ProvinceSolwezi AirportZambezi SourceMwinilunga, North-Western ProvinceSolwezi AirportSource of the Zambezi river and a botanical reserve, part of Zambezi Source National Forest.Blue Lagoon National ParkCentral ProvinceKenneth Kaunda International AirportCamerapix: "Spectrum Guide to Zambia." Camerapix International Publishing, Nairobi, 1996.Lunsemfwa Wonder Gorge and Bell PointMkushi, Central ProvinceSimon Mwansa Kapwepwe International AirportKasanka National ParkCentral ProvinceMansa AirportKapishya HotspringsMpika, Muchinga ProvinceKasama AirportKundalila FallsMuchinga ProvinceMansa AirportNorth Luangwa National ParkMuchinga ProvinceMfuwe AirportNyika National ParkMuchinga ProvinceMfuwe AirportSouth Luangwa National ParkMuchinga ProvinceMfuwe AirportMfuwe LodgeMuchinga ProvinceMfuwe Airport A safari lodge overlooking Mfuwe Lagoon in South Luangwa National ParkChembe Bird SanctuaryKitwe, Copperbelt ProvinceSimon Mwansa Kapwepwe International AirportNsobe Game ParkCopperbelt ProvinceSimon Mwansa Kapwepwe International AirportHappy Land Amusement ParkChongwe, Lusaka ProvinceKenneth Kaunda International AirportAmusement ParkLochinvar National ParkLusaka ProvinceKenneth Kaunda International AirportLolebezi Safari LodgeLusaka ProvinceKenneth Kaunda International AirportLower Zambezi National ParkLusaka ProvinceKenneth Kaunda International AirportLusaka National MuseumLusaka, Lusaka ProvinceKenneth Kaunda International AirportMuseumLusaka National ParkLusaka, Lusaka ProvinceKenneth Kaunda International AirportMunda Wanga Environmental ParkChilanga, Lusaka ProvinceKenneth Kaunda International AirportTAZARA Memorial ParkChongwe, Lusaka ProvinceKenneth Kaunda International AirportMuseumBarotse FloodplainWestern ProvinceMongu AirportChavuma FallsWestern ProvinceLukulu AirportLiuwa Plain National ParkWestern ProvinceLukulu AirportNgonye FallsWestern ProvinceLukulu AirportNgonye Falls -- Britannica Online EncyclopediaNGONYE FALLS - Zambia Tourism Also known as Sioma FallsSioma Ngwezi National ParksWestern ProvinceSesheke Airport

Governmental Policies Regarding Tourism Due to Zambia's poor economic status, the country has historically relied on foreign aid in an attempt to alleviate poverty. Tourism has emerged in recent years as an alternate method to mining to boost Zambia's economy.

Tourism is being seen by Zambia's government as a tool for economic and rural development, as it generates income, creates jobs, promotes wildlife conservation, and improves standards of living.

The increasingly popular worldwide phenomena adventure tourism has also risen in popularity within Zambia, especially within the city of Livingstone, which is now becoming known as Africa's "adventure tourism capital".

Since tourism as an economic sector is boosted with cooperation between neighboring countries, Zambia, as a member of the South African Development Community (SADC), has cooperated with other countries within the SADC in order to mutually attract tourists.

Zambia, along with fellow SADC nations, have struggled to compete with other nations with more established tourist destinations, for a variety of reasons, some of which include difficulty in transportation to the countries, an absence of direct international flights, and failure to create attractive tourist experiences or products.

Efforts to Promote Tourism As a member of the SADC, Zambia engaged in the following efforts to promote tourism.

SADC Tourism Protocol 1998 - Member countries are urged to create a "Univisa" that would allow tourists to travel across the borders of SADC countries freely. After initial success, in November 2014, Zambia and Zimbabwe signed a memorandum of understanding to put into effect a more permanent UNIVISA which allows tourists to visit both countries with a single visa.

Regional Tourism Organization of South Africa (RETOSA) 2002 - In an attempt to make the SADC more appealing to visitors, the charter imposed upon member states of SADC a series of protocols and programs to promote the region.

Zambia is currently struggling to facilitate tourism without creating a burden on local communities that would result in a loss of culture, an unstable economy, and compromised environment.

Tourism as a form of wildlife conservation An increase in sport hunting and ecotourism has resulted in an increase in wildlife populations in South African countries such as Zambia. Since Zambia is home to so many national parks, waterfalls, and game management areas, most of Zambia's tourism is dependent on wildlife. Ecotourism within Zambia, while devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has played a major role in controlling poaching and bringing in foreign investment for wildlife protection.

One U.N. Development Programme, the Lion's Share, announced recently its commitment to grant $400,000 towards wildlife-based tourism in Zambia, in order to protect wildlife and generate jobs. Not only is wildlife essential to the development of Zambia's Tourism industry and thus Zambia's economy, but tourism is also essential to the preservation of wildlife in Zambia. The Minister of Tourism and Arts of Zambia stands by the framework defined in expectations and goals set out in the Agenda 2030, an initiative to increase tourism sustainability in Africa.

However, tourism has also been linked to an increase in urbanization within Zambia, at the detriment of the environmentalism efforts. Another challenge of tourism is documented instances of the Dengue Virus being spread throughout the region from other neighboring countries.

Gallery

Visa Regulations As of 1 October 2022, visa requirements were waived for tourists holding a passport from the following countries and territories: +CountryGulf StatesEurope

Arrivals by country

See also

Economy of Zambia: Tourism

References