THE Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) has observed with regret the uproar raised by some stakeholders in Livingstone and reported in some quarters of the media, over the Authority’s decision to charge K15.12 AS Park entry fees to Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park.
ZAWA would like to inform members of the public that the Authority’s decision to charge the park entry fee is based on Statutory Instrument no. 60 of 2007 and is vital for the continued maintenance, improvement and development of the Park, which is one of Zambia’s largest tourism assets.
The general maintenance of the park and the ensuring of security and order comes at a much higher cost to ZAWA than what is being charged. ZAWA had sent a team to conduct a thorough survey within the region and especially among Zambia’s neighbouring countries where it has been established that Park entry fees are mandatory and are paid by every person visiting the Park, whether a local or foreign tourist.
It was also established that ZAWA is the only institution in the region that was not charging these fees and the charge that the Authority has introduced is the lowest among our neighbouring countries in the region, such as Zimbabwe and Botswana. It has been established during verification visits conducted by ZAWA staff during the month of April, 2014 to Zimbabwe and Botswana that prevailing park entry fees charged by ZAWA in Zambia were lower than that of Zimbabwe and relatively the same and in certain instances lower than Botswana. Nevertheless, ZAWA has continued to engage with stakeholders in Livingstone over the matter.
Article by; ZAWA
Pictures by: ZAWA PR
We understand that they have to charge fees to enter the “proper park”but the new gate is situated at the wrong place and has a big negative impact on Lodges and hotels that are now cut off – this has a negative impact on all locals that frequented these places socially and it has an even bigger negative impact on tourism as agents has been saying that they had enough of Zambia – first they pay through their noses to enter the country, visas highest in the region – yellow fever making it even more difficultand now they have to pay to get to some lodges and hotels. They feel that they would rather go to Zimbabwe – costs to high to come to Zambia. Why do Zambia like to shoot themselves in the foot everytime??????