Zambia's Tourism Sector Created 156,000 Jobs in Q4 2025, Says Minister
Zambia's tourism sector created 156,000 jobs in the final quarter of 2025, Minister of Tourism Rodney Sikumba has announced. Speaking on ZNBC's Sunday Interview programme, Sikumba outlined a series of government initiatives aimed at strengthening the sector, including plans to recruit additional Wildlife Officers across all 20 national parks and a review of the Zambia Wildlife Act to bolster enforcement against poaching, encroachment, and illegal ivory trafficking. The ministry has also written to Cabinet seeking treasury authority for further recruitment and salary scale harmonisation.
On the growth front, the Zambia Tourism Agency has been tasked with reaching 3 million visitor arrivals in 2026, with a longer-term target of 1 million arrivals annually. The government is partnering with organisations including African Parks and the International Crane Foundation, as well as a global PR agency, to raise Zambia's profile in Europe, the UK, and the US. Sikumba also highlighted efforts to develop the northern tourism circuit, including Kasaba Bay and Lake Tanganyika, and noted that Zambia and Zimbabwe are jointly marketing Victoria Falls in line with UNESCO guidelines. As Chairperson of the UN Tourism Commission for Africa, he reaffirmed Zambia's position as one of Southern Africa's leading nature-based tourism destinations.
Source: Lusaka Times
