Victoria Falls Welcomes 42,000 Visitors: Minister Launches Public WiFi Initiative

 CHALI MULENGA

Livingstone

MINISTER of Tourism Rodney Sikumba has announced that the Victoria Falls World Heritage Site received 42,000 visitors in the first quarter of the year.

Mr. Sikumba stated that this figure averages to 13,000 visitors monthly, which equates to around 2,000 visitors daily.

“I am delighted that the public WiFi installed in the Victoria Falls rainforest has the capacity to accommodate 1,500 people at a given time. When comparing the number of visitors to the falls, they can access fast internet,” he said.

He made these remarks yesterday during the launch of public WiFi in Livingstone at the Victoria Falls.

Mr. Sikumba emphasized that this initiative will enable people to share real-time experiences on location.

“This collaboration will, in turn, help increase the number of people visiting the site as it enhances the visibility of the World Heritage Site,” he said.

Mr. Sikumba added that the launch of the site with public WiFi is significant as the ministry aims to attract more visitors to the country, targeting 2 million tourist arrivals by the end of 2024.

He emphasized the importance of digitalization in today's world, stating that it increases global visibility. The Ministry of Tourism, he said, will ensure that facilities are digitalized to enhance efficiency.

He proposed a centralized system where all government office transactions are conducted and funds pooled into a single account for redistribution among government departments.

Mr. Sikumba advocated for collaboration between Zambia and Zimbabwe in marketing the Victoria Falls instead of competing for tourists.

Shaun Wheeler, Chairman of the Livingstone Tourism Association, expressed delight at the introduction of WiFi at the Victoria Falls, stating that it signifies progress for the city.

Livingstone Mayor Constance Muleabai described the introduction of public WiFi in Livingstone as a game-changer, aligning with the government’s agenda and boosting the tourism sector by connecting more tourists to the internet.

Mike Townsend, Chief Executive Officer of Liquid Intelligent Technologies Zambia, stated that the launch of public WiFi in Livingstone is a response to the needs of the tourism sector, marking a significant initiative for the company.