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Zambia has started implementing the Green, Resilient, and Transformational Tourism Development Project (GREAT-TDP), costing US $100 million.
Ministry of Tourism Project Coordinator, Chilala Habasimbi, announced that this initiative would be carried out over a period of seven years in the Western Province, with support from the World Bank.
Habasimbi made this announcement during a stakeholder engagement meeting on the environment, social standards and matching grant facility under the GREAT-TDP in Mongu.
She highlighted that the project included community participation, raising awareness of environmental and social risks, collecting feedback from communities, and enhancing accountability and transparency.
“The project will enhance the enabling environment, bring climate-resilient infrastructure, and support communities to participate in the broader economy,” Habasimbi said.
Western Province Permanent Secretary, Simomo Akapelwa, also attended the meeting and assured attendees of government’s commitment to implementing the project.
Akapelwa explained that the project aims to support the tourism industry by providing infrastructure development, creating policies for investment opportunities and offering support to surrounding communities.
He stated that the project would be implemented in three main areas: Kasaba Bay, Liuwa National Park, and the source of the Zambezi River and its surrounding areas.
“The project seeks to support tourism development through a holistic and integrated approach, including infrastructure development, policies to unlock investment opportunities and management and support for local communities,” Akapelwa noted.
Akapelwa added that the project’s goals aligned with the Eighth National Development Plan (8th NDP), which outlines Zambia’s strategic development priorities and implementation strategies.
He urged stakeholders to support the project and maintain a positive outlook to ensure its success.
Akapelwa also commended the private sector for partnering with the government and praised the high turnout at the meeting, emphasizing that such engagement was crucial for serving the community effectively.
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