The Zambian government has urged the private sector to take advantage of tourist attractions by investing in domestic air services to boost the country's economy.

 

There was great potential for private investment in the domestic air services arising from the abundance of tourist attractions and increasing economic activities across Zambia's borders, Sunday's Zambia Daily Mail cited Communications and Transport Minister Peter Daka as saying.

 

"Government policy in the aviation sector has always emphasized on the need to develop a safe, efficient and sustainable private sector-driven air transport industry, which ensures customer safety and satisfaction needs whilst at the same time encouraging local private participation," the minister said.

 

He said this in the aftermath of launching the Zambian Airways Boeing 737 route from capital Lusaka to Ndola in the Copperbelt province.

 

Daka however said the growth in the aviation industry has been below the expectations of many Zambians.

 

"This has been largely attributed to the unattractiveness of the Zambian market caused by poor infrastructure, relatively high aviation fuel prices, small passenger loads and lack of properly managed tourist destinations," the minister was quoted as saying.

 

He also pointed out that the airfares to and from Zambia are some of the highest in the sub-Saharan region thanks to the lack of competition which is stifled by the big foreign carriers.

 

(Xinhua News Agency January 22, 2007)