Livingstone Mayor Bright Hanakamba has welcomed the commitment by the Government, through the Great Tourism Development Programme (Great TDP), and the World Bank to collaborate with the Livingstone City Council in upgrading the status of Livingstone as one of Zambia’s leading…

 Livingstone Mayor Bright Hanakamba has welcomed the commitment by the Government, through the Great Tourism Development Programme (Great TDP), and the World Bank to collaborate with the Livingstone City Council in upgrading the status of Livingstone as one of Zambia’s leading international tourism destinations.

Mr Hanakamba says the Great TDP, supported by the World Bank, would significantly contribute to the development of Livingstone through improved tourism infrastructure, enhanced destination appeal and the creation of economic opportunities, particularly for unemployed local youths.

Speaking in Livingstone during an information gathering meeting with the Council this morning, he said the local authority was ready to work with the Great TDP team and its cooperating partners to ensure that the project delivered meaningful and lasting benefits to the city and its residents.

The Mayor emphasised that the involvement of Livingstone City Council was critical to ensuring that the project responds to the city’s development priorities, while strengthening its position as a world-class tourism destination.

“I am hopeful that continued engagements among the stakeholders would accelerate project implementation and translate the planned investments into tangible improvements in the City’s tourism infrastructure, local economic development and employment opportunities,” Mr Hanakamba stated.

And World Bank Team Leader Blerta Derimi highlighted that the Great TDP was designed to provide economic opportunities in selected tourism destinations in Zambia by improving access to basic tourism infrastructure, strengthening the enabling environment and supporting destination branding and marketing.

Ms Derimi explained that the programme was scheduled for implementation through 2030 and had recently undergone restructuring, making it necessary for the implementing institutions and cooperating partners to increase the pace of implementation to achieve the intended development outcomes.

She noted that progress needed to accelerate to ensure that the programme fulfilled its objectives and delivered the anticipated impact in beneficiary destinations.

“I want to underscore the importance of strong partnerships and coordinated efforts among all stakeholders, the project’s success would depend on collective commitment to implementation and the effective delivery of planned interventions,” the World Bank Team Leader said.

The Great TDPs focus on economic opportunities, and tourism infrastructure is also aligned with the broader objective of ensuring that tourism growth translates into practical benefits for citizens, including young people seeking employment and opportunities to participate in the tourism value chain.

This was contained in a statement issued to ZANIS by National Heritage Conservation Commission (NHCC) Information and Public Relations Manager, Ndubi Mvula.