17/08/2011 | C. Martin
African neighbours Zambia and Namibia are planning to pool their resources together for an integrated tourism marketing strategy expected to boost both nations.
Officials from the Zambian and Namibian tourism departments believe they will be able to attract more visitors by working together instead of competing.
For travellers it could mean even more exciting safari holidays and tour packages that offer the best of both countries.
The Zambia Tourism Board (ZTB) has ambitious plans to raise its overseas visitor numbers from 825,000 in 2010 to one million this year.
A partnership with Namibia and other countries in the region will be key to achieving these targets, ZTB's managing director Felix Chaila believes.
"Zambia's mighty Victoria Falls together with Walvis Bay and dunes in Namibia makes for a more attractive destination than has been. So we have identified countries in the region that will work with us in the new marketing strategy," he said at a tourism conference in Lusaka.
Namibia, well-known for its wildlife reserves and lodges, hopes to increase tourist arrivals to 1.1 million in 2012.
Copyright Press Association 2011