Question

Discuss the importance of infrastructure development in the growth of the tourism sector. Site practical examples in the Zambian context.

Answer 1

Zambia is an African country which is one of the fastest emerging economies in Africa. But despite off that it is included within lower middle income countries which have hign unemployment and rural poverty. The main potential area for Zambia to acheive growth is it's tourism sector. The government is Zambia is also focusing on the development of infrastructure and more involvement of private sector participation in the tourism sector to increase the incentives for investment in the tourism sector. The country has it's own natural environment which have potential to convert it as attraction for tourists and for the growth of the sector, it is need of the hour to invest in infrastructure for its development. the tourism sector demands for demands for facilities like restaurents, accomodation, shopping facilities, recreational facilities, transportation facilities like airports, bus stands etc. Moreover, there is additional requirement of infreastructure development in the form of development of parks, museaums, gardens, and other heritage sites alongwith additional basic facilities like public toilets, signage etc. The growth of Tourism sector can only be acheived by investing in all these infrastructure development. Thus, development of infrastructure in Zambia is important.