Global Tensions Hit Zambia's Tourism



International tourist arrivals fell 6.6 percent in the first half of 2026 as geopolitical tensions, rising travel costs and disruptions to global air travel weighed on the sector, although the Ministry of Tourism expects a stronger recovery before year-end.

By Francis Maingaila

Lusaka, Zambia24 -- 3 August 2026 — Zambia's tourism sector recorded a slower first half of 2026 as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East disrupted global travel. Despite the setback, the Ministry of Tourism expects the sector to recover in the second half of the year.

Ms. Nelly Banda Chewe, Principal Public Relations Officer at the Ministry of Tourism, said Permanent Secretary Mr. Evans Muhanga told journalists that international tourist arrivals reached 1,033,284 in the first half of 2026. This was a 6.6 percent decline from 1,106,559 recorded during the same period in 2025.

Ms. Banda Chewe said Mr. Muhanga attributed the decline to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. He also cited higher fuel prices, slower economic growth in key tourism markets and disruptions to international air travel.

Ms. Banda Chewe said visits to National Parks, Heritage Sites and National Museums also declined. She said the number of visits fell by 1.24 percent, from 246,920 in the first half of 2025 to 243,864 this year.

Ms. Banda Chewe said Mr. Muhanga described the decline as a result of the global travel slowdown rather than reduced interest in Zambia's tourist attractions.

Ms. Banda Chewe said tourism sector revenue dropped from K241.90 million in the first half of 2025 to K177.82 million this year. She said the decline was mainly due to lower tourism levy collections and reduced hunting and park fees.

Ms. Banda Chewe said casino revenues, hotel managers' registrations and tourism enterprise registrations increased during the same period. She said Mr. Muhanga believes this shows that business activity in the tourism sector remains strong.

Ms. Banda Chewe said the Ministry made progress in promoting Zambia as a tourism and investment destination. She said the country successfully hosted the Zambia Tourism Expo (ZATEX) 2026.

Ms. Banda Chewe said Zambia also participated in Experience Africa in the United Kingdom, the Outbound Travel Mart in India, Meetings Africa in South Africa and ITB Berlin in Germany. She said these events increased Zambia's visibility and created opportunities for investment and business partnerships.

Ms. Banda Chewe said the Ministry also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with UN Tourism. She said the agreement will support the development of a Tourism Satellite Account (TSA) to improve measurement of tourism's contribution to the economy.

Ms. Banda Chewe added that Government launched the "Zambia Moves You" destination brand. She said the brand is intended to strengthen Zambia's competitiveness as a tourism and investment destination.

Ms. Banda Chewe said Mr. Muhanga expects tourism performance to improve in the second half of the year. She said the recovery will be supported by stronger destination marketing, better air connectivity, new tourism products and increased investment in tourism infrastructure.

Ms. Banda Chewe said growth in Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism and continued promotion of domestic tourism will also support the sector. She added that the Ministry projects international tourist arrivals to reach 2.5 million by the end of 2026.

Ms. Banda Chewe reaffirmed the Ministry of Tourism's commitment to working with industry stakeholders, cooperating partners and local communities. She said the goal is to build a resilient, competitive and sustainable tourism sector that contributes to Zambia's socio-economic development.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Bishops Decry DEC Summons

Image
ZCCB Warns Against Using State Institutions to Silence Church Leaders By Francis Maingaila ♥️ Lusaka, Zambia24  --- (3-01-2026) - The Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) has condemned in the strongest terms the Drug Enforcement Commission’s (DEC) summons of Lusaka Archbishop Alick Banda, describing it as a brazen attempt to intimidate the Church and silence its voice on governance. ZCCB President Archbishop Ignatius Chama said in a statement that the Bishops stand in unwavering solidarity with Archbishop Banda, who is scheduled to appear before the Anti-Money Laundering Investigations Unit of the DEC on 5 January 2026.  The summons, delivered on 31 December 2025, comes amid a wave of public attacks and derogatory remarks against the Archbishop. The Bishops labelled the DEC action as unmistakably state-sponsored harassment, designed to punish Archbishop Banda for speaking truth to power and holding the government accountable.  Bishop Chama warned that weaponizing state institut...
Read more

Opposition Meets ECZ Over Voter Concerns

Image
Lungu says the Dialogue focused on transparency and voter registration ahead of 2026 polls. By Francis Maingaila Lusaka, Zambia24 -- (October 25, 2025) -- Leaders from the United Opposition Front (UOF) have met with the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to discuss concerns surrounding voter registration and other electoral matters ahead of the 2026 general election. The meeting, held at the ECZ Headquarters in Lusaka, brought together opposition parties including The Zambia We Want, the Socialist Party, and the United Liberal Party among others. It was chaired by the ECZ Chairperson and attended by senior officials from the Commission. Speaking shortly after the meeting, Muhabi Lungu, Secretary General of The Zambia We Want, said the engagement was constructive and aimed at promoting transparency and mutual trust between the Commission and political parties.  “We met with the ECZ to share our concerns, particularly on voter registration, and to discuss how we can ensure the process ...
Read more

Consortium Challenges Health Bill

Image
Health groups reject reforms, warn against increased private sector influence in regulation, call for revisions to protect integrity of health regulation and demand meaningful consultation and representation By Francis Maingaila ♥️ Lusaka, Zambia — (13/04/2026) A consortium of seven health professional associations representing over 86 percent of Zambia’s regulated health workforce has challenged the proposed Health Professions (Amendment) Bill No. 23 of 2026, rejecting the reforms and warning that they risk increasing private sector influence, undermining regulatory integrity and excluding practitioners from meaningful participation. Speaking during a joint media briefing, Clinical Officers’ Association of Zambia (COAZ) Secretary General Dr. Musonda Kamfwa said the consortium opposes the bill in its current form because it seeks to alter the governance structure of the Health Professions Council of Zambia (HPCZ) by reducing the role of health professionals while expanding non-practit...
Read more