PROFLIGHT ZAMBIA PLEDGE TO SUPPORT LOCAL TOURISM.

Proflight Zambia has announced that it is supporting this year’s World Tourism Day by bringing people to Africa’s top attractions quickly, safely and affordably.

The airline has announced that it is committed to backing tourism and freedom of movement in Zambia by signing up to the theme of this year’s World Tourism Day which is ‘tourism for all – promoting universal accessibility’.

World Tourism Day is held on September 27 every year to support the growth of tourism around the globe.

Proflight Zambia’s director of government and industry affairs Captain Philip Lemba says although Zambia has a vast range of incredible tourist attractions for both international and local visitors, many of them are spread out across the country, with long distances between them; “The fastest means of getting to these destinations is by flying, which is the best option for reaching all the far-flung places, quickly, safely and affordably.”

 Proflight Zambia, the country’s only domestic airline, flies to Zambia’s main tourism destinations which are spread out to the north, south, east and west of the country. Zambia covers just over 752,600 square kilometres, and the tourist destinations are scattered around the country.

“With the aim of promoting trade and movement in Africa, Proflight flies from its base in Lusaka through the regional routes to Lilongwe in Malawi, and Durban in South Africa, and through its domestic routes, which include Livingstone, Mfuwe, Lower Zambezi, Ndola and Solwezi,” added Captain Lemba. “Today, the airline carries over 130,000 passengers annually with its fleet.”

According to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, the purpose of World Trade Day is to foster awareness among the international community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic value. “World Trade Day seeks to address global challenges outlined in the United Nations Millennium Development Goals and to highlight the contribution the tourism sector can make in reaching these objectives,” said a spokesman.

This year’s theme of ‘tourism for all – promoting universal accessibility’ looks at the effectiveness and convenience of how tourists reach their destinations.

Proflight feeds orphaned hippo

  

For instance, Lower Zambezi in the south east of the capital is 30 minutes away by flight from Lusaka on Proflight Zambia’s jets from the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport. Lower Zambezi boasts excellent game viewing by boat or canoe and is home to one of the largest remaining elephant herds in the world.

Lake Tanganyika in Northern Province is Africa's deepest and longest lake which offers great scuba diving as well as hiking to the top of Kalambo Falls, the second highest in Africa at 220m; other water sports, fishing and game viewing can be enjoyed at Sumbu Park on the shore. To reach these tourism sites by road or rail would take more than ten hours while by air it should only be an hour and a half from Lusaka to Kasama. This is clear evidence that travellers save more time travelling by air.

South Luangwa, Zambia's premier game park, is minutes away by flight from the capital Lusaka. South Luangwa is noted for its dense concentrations of game, with over 50 mammal and 400 bird species, while the Luangwa River boasts more hippos and crocodiles than any other river in Africa.

On the southern part of Zambia lies the city of Livingstone which is an hour and a half from Lusaka by air. Livingstone is where the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park and the mighty Victoria Falls can be found, as well as the Livingstone Museum, the Railway Museum, Maramba Cultural Village, Mukuni Tribal Village, and the many traditional ceremonies including cultural markets are all embraced here.

Proflight Zambia takes you to these tourism destinations either by scheduled flights or charter. A domestic and regional airline such as Proflight is essential in providing transport services that will enable tourists to access and reach the sites on time in a more convenient and comfortable way.

With direct flights to the various top Zambian tourist spots spread around the country, Proflight Zambia is committed to making travelling more convenient by allowing tourists greater freedom of movement and assisting them in reaching their destinations.

This year’s World Tourism Day’s theme picks up from last year’s which was ‘millions of tourists, millions of opportunities”. The subject for 2017 has already been earmarked as ‘sustainable tourism – a tool for development’.

Proflight Zambia is currently embarking on plans to add more direct flights to tourist destinations so that passengers can avoid having to connect at the capital Lusaka.