Tourism in Malawi

Famously known for its most welcoming, warm and friendly people, Malawi is famously dubbed the Warm Heart of Africa, and it has considerable potential for tourism. Malawi has several tourist attraction sites including its most exquisite freshwater Lake Malawi, several national parks, game reserves, and the scenic Mulanje Mountain. The tourism industry in Malawi has significantly grown since the mid-1970s, and the Malawian government is attempting to expand it further. The tourism industry was, however, significantly affected in the 1980s by an economic recession in South Africa—where most Malawian tourists come from. The sector was also greatly affected by the destabilisation of Zimbabwe but it has seen double-digit growth in recent years. Tourism contributed 4,5% to the national GDP in 2014 and provided 3,8% of all jobs.[1]

Main tourist attraction sites

Main tourist attractions centres in Malawi are Lake Malawi, mountains such as Zomba Plateau and Mulanje Mountain, not forgetting the country's national parks. The tourist industry promotes Malawi's national parks including Nyika National Park, Kasungu National Park, and Liwonde National Park. Of all the national parks in the Warm Heart of Africa, Lake Malawi National Park is a UNESCO heritage site as it has unique species. Other than the beautiful lake and national parks, tourist have a lot of other beautiful sites to visit while in Malawi such as the rock paintings at Chongoni.

Lake Malawi

Covering almost a fifth of the country, Lake Malawi is the most defining feature in the Warm Heart of Africa. Lake Malawi spans from the Northern region of the country through the Southern region with its northern part being the deepest. It is the world's eighth largest freshwater lake and Africa's third largest lake. Sometimes known as the Lake of Stars, Lake Malawi is the country's largest contributor to its tourism industry due to its unmatched splendor and diversity of species that are found nowhere else in the world. The lake has crystal clear waters, and a vast majority of cichlids which add an exquisite scenery under the waters of this beautiful lake. The lake has a lot to offer from snorkeling to diving and many other water sports including kayaking and horse riding.

Beaches

Along the shores of Lake Malawi are many beautiful beaches where tourists can visit and have some fun. Some of the most notable beaches on the shores of Lake Malawi include Kande Beach and Chintheche Inn in Nkhata Bay. Kande Beach is home to the famous Kande Horse Stables where tourists get horse rides in the fresh waters of Lake Malawi. Hospitality along the shores of Lake Malawi is not a problem either as there are many lodges along the lake shore where tourists can spend some good time with the utmost hospitality provided at their disposal. Some of the accommodation facilities along the coasts of Lake Malawi include Makokola Retreat in Mangochi, Sunbird Livingstonia in Salima, and many more. While at the beaches along the coast of Lake Malawi, tourists can play various water sports including kayaking, parasailing, canoeing, snorkeling and water skiing or they could even go fishing.

Lake of Stars Music Festival

The Lake of Star Music festival is an annual music concert that happens along the coasts of Lake Malawi. Lake of Stars is one of Africa's biggest music festivals that attracts at least 4000 local and international attendees as well as artists from countries within Africa and beyond. The annual event was founded by Will Jameson in 2004 and ever since, the event has gained recognition from CNN, The Mail & Guardian and The Independent. The live music event which usually occurs in the fall bridges the local and international tourists, and it is also a source of revenue in the tourism industry due to a huge patronage of international visitors.

National Parks

Malawi has pristine beauty in its national parks with a lot of wildlife ranging from the beautiful zebras at Nyika National Park to the elephants at Liwonde National Park. Lake Malawi National Park in the South is a UNESCO heritage site and it has over a thousand species of fish and birds that are just unique to the warm heart of Africa. Located at Cape Maclear, Lake Malawi National park is the only Malawian national park that was opened to protect the biodiversity of unique fish and other aquatic species that it inhabits.

References

1. name=World Travel & Tourism Council>Travel&Tourism economic Impact 2014 Malawi. 2014. p. 1.

External links

1. https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/africa-view-best-african-festivals/index.html