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Africa
Travel Magazine's "Great Cities of Africa" editions
include Lusaka,
Zambia and Livingstone,
tourism capital and home of Victoria Falls, one of
the Top
10 Wonders of the
World What an amazing
country! We
made so many lasting friendships during our
month-long stay in Zambia, we've become lifetime
ambassadors, eager to spread the good news at every
opportunity. Example: Africa Travel Magazine's
Zambia Congress edition, with Victoria Falls on the
front cover, is getting prime circulation in North
America, Africa and beyond.
Continued Zambia's
Proud History as an ATA member To
drum up advance interest in "The Real Africa,"
Zambia's National Tourist Office staged a USA Road
Show, aided by ATA's Southern California, Atlanta,
Washington and New York chapters. These venues
helped ensure a large, enthusiastic attendance at
the event's launch in Lusaka. At the Congress
opening address, Zambia's President, Hon. Levy P.
Mwanawsa (right) was upbeat about tourism's
potential, echoed by the theme "Ethno Tourism: A
key to sustainable development and job creation."
In this positive vein, he stressed the importance
of increasing tourist flow from North America to a
wider range of African destinations. The President
welcomed all ATA delegates at a sunset reception in
the spacious gardens of Government House. H.E. Martin Brennan, United States Ambassador to Zambia hosted ATA delegates at the beautiful embassy complex in Lusaka. He too expressed confidence that, if managed properly, tourism can be a catalyst to better infrastructure development and conservation. He believes that tourism should be seen as more than just an income generator, but as a tool for transforming the world into a global village. Brennan was pleased to announce that the U.S. government will provide $9 million for natural resource management in Kafue National Park and Zambezi-Chobe area, including a program for training Africans in tourist services allocation because it does not only consume but generates resources and wealth." His Co-Chair, H.E. Prof. Mwelwa C. Musambachime, Zambia's permanent representative to the United Nations tackled the timely topics as moderator for "Community-based Tourism as a Driving Force," which focused on cross-ministerial and intergovernmental measures for fostering sustainable development.
Photo : Hon. Meghji (above) with IIPT President Louis D'Amore. Below: Mira Berman, Hon. Patrick Kalifungwa, Hon. Zakia Meghji and Gaynelle Henderson-Bailey, 1st Vice President, ATA. Continuing
on a high note, ATA Executive Director Mira Berman
of New York spoke of industry partnerships with the
World Tourism Organization, United States Tour
Operators Association, International Ecotourism
Society, American Society of Travel Agents,
Corporate Council for Africa, Association of Retail
Travel Agents, RETOSA (Southern Africa) and SATH
(Handicapped Travelers). Berman touched on key ATA
projects, such as Bermuda's African Diaspora
Heritage Trail, and Africa's Second IIPT-ATA Peace
through Tourism Conference in early December,
2003.
Africa
Travel Magazine's "Great Cities of Africa" editions
include Lusaka,
Zambia and Livingstone,
tourism capital and home of Victoria Falls, one of
the Top
10 Wonders of the
World Lusaka As one of the fastest- growing city centers in Central Africa, the capital Lusaka has brought together people of many nationalities and is an intense land of colorful hustle and bustle of free enterprise mixed with real African ingenuity. Interspersed with Lusaka's many excellent luxury and budget hotels and restaurants are truly urban African experiences: large markets full of economicactivity; noteworthy historical and cultural sites; the Zintu museum of Arts and Crafts ant the Munda anga Zoo and Botanical Gardens. For those wishing to visit nearby game reserves, the pristing bush is less than a day's trip away from this major city center. The city is central to the main highways leading north, south, east and west, at an altitude of 1,300 meters (4,265 FEET) above sea level. Lusaka is centrally located for Zambians and visitors, with Lusaka International Airport being an important national and international link. Zambia is a landlocked country in the tropics of sub-Saharan Africa whose population exceeds 10 million. The capital of Zambia is Lusaka, with a population of roughly 1.2 million people. Victoria Falls lies on Zambia's southern border at the tourist center of Livingstone. Zambia's 19 Parks have some of the most abundant animal populations in Africa. Zambia's elevation (average 1300m) gives it a mild tropical climate. The weather is so pleasant that is has been nicknamed "The air-conditioned state"
Discover the Real Africa in Livingstone
A delightful characteristic most ATA delegates share is their eagerness to explore new parts of this fascinating continent. With 53 unique countries and an endless variety of topography, cultures and wildlife species, it's truly a lifetime quest. The trio on the right is a fine example of ATA's jet setters - Robert D'Angelo of Philadelphia; Elyse White of Harlem, and Robert Eilets, whose photos are seen on our web site and magazine. Like most members, they are anxious feel the spray and catch the splendor of Victoria Falls. They also seek to learn facts about Livingstone, our hosts for a key segment of the 2003 Congress. Livingstone Tourism Association has provided the following historical sketch, written by Mr. Gill Staden, a well known journalist from the area. We know that you will enjoy his story.
The first buildings to be erected at the new Livingstone were made of poles and mud, with tin roofs. The site was high up on a sand ridge in the middle of a forest of teak trees. The railway line had only reached the station, about one km away - quite a distance to walk on the sandy roads. The people were not happy in the new Livingstone and wondered what was to become of them. Then the BSAC decided to move their administrative center from Kalomo to Livingstone. From 1907 to 1935, Livingstone was the capital of North Western Rhodesia, and this was a time of prosperity. It was during these years that many buildings were erected. We often consider these times as being romantic, and to us it must seem that way, but life was not easy. Water was a continual problem - it had to be pumped up from the Maramba River and bucketed to the houses. The toilets of all the houses were sited at the back of the yards where the bucket brigade using ox-carts came every morning to empty the sanitary buckets. All the roads were deep sand, making a walk of any distance tiresome. A tram-line was laid from town to the railway station and then on to the boat club. Small cabooses were made for people to sit on and they were pushed up and down the hill by servants. Many of the old houses which were built at this time have fallen into a state of disrepair. But some are being lovingly restored and are well worth looking for. In the future if the economy continues to pick up more will be restored and this will enhance the beauty of Livingstone. North Western and North Eastern Rhodesia were amalgamated in 1935 to form Northern Rhodesia and it was then that the capital was moved to Lusaka - a more central location. Livingstone continued to thrive for some time because it became a manufacturing center. Factories made blankets, textiles, clothes, cars. But slowly, as the economy started to decline, so did the wealth of Livingstone. After Independence in 1964, Northern Rhodesia became Zambia and shortly after that Zambia adopted the politics of humanism, which is akin to socialism, and a one-party government. More and more Zambia cut itself off from the outside world. The price of copper, their main export, decreased. The economy did not diversify. Zambia became poorer and poorer. Livingstone suffered badly as tourism was not encouraged and the manufacturing base declined. It left Livingstone (along with the rest of Zambia) with extremely high unemployment and dreadful poverty. Finally the people stood up to be counted and voted in a new government which espoused a multiparty democracy. Since then Zambia has opened its doors to the outside world and taken on major economic reforms. This has led to an increase in tourists visiting Zambia, especially Livingstone. For full information on services at Livingstone Tourism Association, see the web site: www.livingstone.com, e-mail: lta@zamnet.com
Natural Mystic Lodge on the Zambezi |
ATA
President Accentuates the Positive