Malawi’s Tourism, Culture and Heritage Industry has said it has lost about K42 billion as it has cancelled hotel bookings and lost business opportunities to COVID-19, one of the world’s worst health pandemics in recent years.

First discovered in Wuhan in the People’s Republic of China, the pandemic has caused havoc across the world, disrupting business and leaving many global economies on the brink of collapse. Malawi’s Tourism, Culture

Presenting a ministerial statement in Parliament on the status of Malawi’s tourism sector amidst COVID-19, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Wildlife, Dr Michael Usi said the year 2020 was the worst in the history of the industry.

He said the sector has lost about K42 billion since the emergence of the pandemic last year.Usi said this was mainly due to the cancellation of hotel bookings following travel restrictions that kicked in at the height of the pandemic.

So  far over 300 people in the country lost their jobs.

The Minister said Government is now reviewing and carrying out several reforms aimed at making Malawi more attractive to tourists across the globe.