Tourism is the poor southern African country’s third-largest source of foreign exchange
Malawi:
Malawi has scrapped visa requirements for tourists from 79 countries in a bid to boost tourism, President Lazarus Chakwera told parliament on Friday.
Chakwera said tourism was the poor southern African country’s third-largest source of foreign exchange after tobacco and tea, but the industry was underperforming.
“The main reason for this is the accessibility of our country, which is why we have a visa-free program,” he added.
The United States, United Kingdom, France, China, Russia and members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) are among the countries benefiting from the exemption.
Tourism Minister Vera Kamtukule told AFP that onerous visa requirements had limited the country’s potential and prompted complaints.
“Our strategy is to attract investment in agriculture, tourism and mining,” Kamtukule said.
“By removing visa requirements from our key global source markets, we are signaling that Malawi is open for business.”
The landlocked country is home to abundant wildlife including elephants, hippos and crocodiles, and is partially covered by the waters of Lake Malawi, Africa’s third largest freshwater lake.
Known for its clear waters, sandy beaches and diverse marine life, the lake is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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