An increase in the number of foreign and local tourists visiting Kalabo’s Liuwa National Park has been recorded by NGO, African Parks.

African Parks Field Operations Manager, Ian Pollard, said the increase in the annual volume of international and local visitors is evidence that the tourism sector in Liuwa is flourishing.

He told ZANIS that 1 166 tourists visited the park last year, the highest number it has ever recorded. 2016 and 2015 recorded 896 and 602 tourist arrivals respectively.

African Parks attributes the increase to improved access to Liuwa as a result of the completion of the Mongu-Kalabo road and Proflight’s bi-weekly scheduled flights to Kalabo.

Pollard said a US$1.6 million investment in the five-star King Lewanika leisure resort had also played a role in the boom. “The leisure resort has transformed Liuwa’s hospitality service into a world-class facility, attracting international interest.” He said the new products and services currently being developed to meet the booming number of tourists, could guarantee the 2018 forecast of a 20% increase in visitors to the park.

African Parks has announced plans to develop an additional community-owned campsite and introduce a self-catering tented camp to stimulate local tourism. To maximise accessibility, the NGO plans to introduce a fixed departure activity with guided off-road transport to Kalabo and Mongu residents, enabling guests who do not have vehicles to spend two nights at the self-catering camp during weekends.

Pollard said African Parks was also exploring the possibility of engaging a tour operator to implement four-wheel-drive guided tours for access into the far north region of the park during the dry season.