Government has urged the hospitality industry operators to uphold high standards of professionalism if it is to earn an excellent international recognition.
The State has also disclosed that it is in the process of developing a satellite accounting system that will capture statistics on bed capacity, and sleeper nights monthly and annually.
Luapula Province minister Besa Chimbaka has noted that there was need for professionalism in these institutions especially those located in rural areas.
The minister said this when he officiated at the joint Hotel and Catering Association of Zambia and Institute of Hospitality Annual General Congress, held in Mansa, today.
He said professionalism in the hospitality industry was paramount in the hospitality industry despite Zambia recording an increased number of hospitality facilities
Mr Chimbaka cited Mansa District as one area that has more than 40 guest houses and lodges but observed that some of them are way below the expected standards.
Meanwhile, Mr Chimbaka has cautioned the hospitality sector from exploiting their customers by overcharging them for the services.
The Minister said exploitation of customers through high food and beverage prices and accommodation rates will only make tourists to look elsewhere for cheaper destination in the SADC region.
He said scaring tourists away through charging them high prices will further work against the country’s projection of achieving 3.5 million visitors by 2017.
Meanwhile, Mr Chimbaka says government is in the process of developing a satellite accounting system that will capture statistics on bed capacity, and sleeper nights per month and per year.
He said the system will also capture the number of jobs that tourism creates, number of conferences held in different provinces, and number of tourist entries per year among many other things.
Mr Chimbaka said such statistics will assist government to formulate meaningful incentives for the industry.
ZANIS
