In 2020 alone, over 7000 jobs were lost in the wildlife subsector of the tourism industry in Zambia as a direct impact of COVID-19. The number is astronomical when you include other subsectors such as night economy (nightclubs and bars), hospitality, food, and lodging as well as adventure and cultural activities. The savage impact of Covid-19 has not only left thousands of people jobless, but it has led to the closing of many tourism businesses across the country.
The Zambia Tourism Marketing Initiative (ZTMI) is an innovation to save jobs and save tourism businesses, as well as get the sector back to its glory again.
ZTMI brings together a team of professional, patriotic, motivated individuals from diverse backgrounds, passionate about tourism. The expertise of the team includes tourism, media, technology, banking, and marketing. It comprises of Techpro Outsourcing Limited, Sea Eagle Group, and Mews Media. The ZMTI is supported by the Ministry of Tourism and Arts, the Livingstone Tourism Association, the Tourism Council of Zambia, the Zambia Association of tour operators, as well as the Economic Association of Zambia.
The ZTMI is designed to stimulate and excite domestic tourism through a threefold program including the Online Tourism Show, the Zambia Tourism Awards 2020, and the Online Tourism Awards Digital magazine.