Zambia, South Africa deepen Tourism cooperation at inaugural JTTC meeting

 
By Ennie Kishiki Mutepuka

LIVINGSTONE, ZAMBIA — Zambia and South Africa have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation in the tourism sector during the inaugural Joint Tourism Technical Committee (JTTC) meeting held in Livingstone from April 7 to 12, 2026.

Speaking at the official opening, Zambia’s Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Evans Muhanga, stressed the importance of enhanced cooperation at a time when the global tourism sector is recovering from recent disruptions and adapting to emerging challenges, including geopolitical tensions affecting travel and connectivity.

Muhanga outlined priority areas under the JTTC framework, including joint tourism marketing, travel facilitation, skills development, heritage conservation, and the promotion of intra-African tourism.

South Africa’s Director-General in the Department of Tourism, Nkhulumeni Victor Vele, commended Zambia for hosting the inaugural meeting and emphasized the value of closer collaboration between the two countries.

“This platform provides an opportunity for both countries to unlock tourism potential through joint marketing, improved connectivity, and sustainable development for the benefit of our people,” Vele said.

The Joint Tourism Technical Committee is expected to deliver concrete outcomes, including the development of an implementation plan for the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and the strengthening of institutional frameworks to support continued cooperation.

The initiative reflects broader efforts by African countries to deepen regional integration and leverage tourism as a driver of economic growth, job creation, and cultural exchange.