LILONGWE: Malawi and Zambia have agreed to jointly market each other as single holiday destinations, develop shared tourism products and step up wildlife conservation after concluding their first Joint Tourism Technical Committee meeting in Lilongwe this week.
The three-day meeting, held from 4th to 6th August 2026, operationalised the 2018 Memorandum of Understanding on Tourism Cooperation between the two neighbouring countries.
Malawi’s Principal Secretary responsible for Tourism, Jeane Munyenyembe, said the talks marked a turning point in turning agreements into action.
“The JTTC is a strategic platform that will advance cooperation through joint destination marketing, collaborative tourism product development, exchange of best practices, promotion of cultural heritage and strengthened wildlife conservation initiatives,” Munyenyembe said at the closing ceremony.
She noted that Malawi and Zambia have already been working together through regional platforms such as the Malawi International Tourism Expo, Zambia Travel Expo, and the Malawi-Zambia Transfrontier Conservation Area, which have boosted cross-border travel and regional integration.
Munyenyembe reaffirmed Malawi’s commitment to implementing the agreed action points, saying the partnership reflects a shared vision to position tourism as a key driver of economic growth, job creation and regional integration.
For Zambia, Director of Human Resource and Administration Vivien Ndhlovu, speaking on behalf of the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, thanked the Government of Malawi for hosting and said the outcomes provide “a strong foundation to unlock new opportunities for investment, increase tourist arrivals and create sustainable socio-economic benefits for the people of our two countries.”
Key areas agreed upon by the committee include:
– *Joint destination marketing* to package Malawi and Zambia together for international tourists
– *Tourism product development* around culture, heritage and nature-based tourism
– *Capacity building* and exchange of staff between the two ministries
– *Enhanced collaboration in wildlife conservation* under the Malawi-Zambia TFCA
– *Sustainable tourism development* to protect shared natural resources
Both officials stressed that the real test will be implementation.
“The true success of the Joint Tourism Technical Committee will be measured by the tangible results achieved through effective implementation,” Ndhlovu said.
Zambia is expected to host the next Joint Tourism Technical Committee Meeting as the two countries continue to deepen bilateral ties.
The 2018 MoU seeks to increase tourist numbers between Malawi and Zambia by making it easier for travelers to visit both countries in one trip, leveraging attractions such as Lake Malawi, Nyika National Park, South Luangwa and Victoria Falls.
Leave a Reply