adminfacilitate the smooth hosting of the event next year.
Minister of Tourism and Arts Sylvia Masebo said hosting the UNWTO conference offers a lot of opportunities in the transport, catering, marketing and communication and market for various goods and services hence the need for women entrepreneurs to take advantage of the conference.
“With about 156 member states and other delegates and tourists expected to attend the event, women can showcase their products, hire out their vehicles to transport delegates during the conference and provide catering services . . .
“Women should be part of the process by joining various committees that will facilitate the smooth hosting of the conference,” she said.
Speaking at the Standard Chartered Bank Diva Account holders’ gala dinner in Lusaka recently, Ms Masebo said women should register to participate in the hosting of the UNWTO conference being co-hosted by Zimbabwe.
She said Government has created an enabling environment for the tourism sector to thrive through the suspension of duty on new motor vehicles meant for tourism purposes, new articles and equipment needed to furnish or refurbish accommodation and catering facilities for businesses licensed as tourism enterprises.
“Tourism should be driven by the private sector while Government’s role should be to facilitate the smooth operation. Government has given the tourism sector a bonus by waiving duty on tourism equipment, so buy buses and ferry tourists,” she said.
Standard Chartered Bank managing director Mizinga Melu said the bank remains committed to support women as they are key in driving the economy.
Ms Melu said the bank empowers women in the small and medium-scale enterprise (SME) sector because the future of the economy lies in the growth of the SME sector.
“A lot of women are either SMEs or running big businesses and they need support from commercial banks for them to operate effectively and spur development,” she said. — Zambia Daily Mail.
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Online Reporter