By Bernard Mhone.
Malawi (News of The South) – Government has urged indigenous Malawians to patronise some of the initiatives that are aimed at maximizing their potential to utilise the beauty of the country’s natural resources.
The Deputy Director of Tourism responsible for marketing in the ministry of Industry Trade and Tourism, Sausten Lingwalanya made the appeal at the close of this year’s Lake Malawi Sailing Marathon at Chintheche Beach on Friday.
Lingwalanya said, the marathon is one of the annual key activities for the country’s tourism which is used to showcase Malawi as one of the world best tourism destinations.
“This marathon is one of the key activities for the country’s tourism which is used to showcase Malawi as a tourism destination, the event is growing hence raising our country’s profile as a sporting event destination,” Lingwalanya said.
And in his remarks the marketing Manager for Standard Bank, Kojo Larbi said his bank decided to support the sport considering that tourism is an industry on its own which contributes to the operations of the bank and a country’s economic growth.
“We committed K3 million towards this competition because Malawi’s tourism is the generator of forex which is good for the country’s economic growth,” Larbi said.
Commenting on this year’s overall event management, the chairperson of the Marathon organising committee, Bouke Bijl, said the competition is continuing to grow bigger and better which is a clear indication that the purpose of hosting a marathon event is meeting its objectives.
“This event is more than a team, so sailing from one point to another, Standard Bank should be commended because they understand that this is an economic and social gathering that touches so many communities in a range of ways,
“The increase in number of international participating teams is a clear manifestation of growth of the marathon, it is a 500 kilometre race which makes it so unique being the longest stretch in sailing marathons,” Bijl said.
This year’s Lake Malawi Sailing Marathon drew a total of twenty-four teams from Zimbabwe, Tanzania, and South Africa.
And the country’s lake sailing marathons event was founded by a group of sailors and provides an opportunity for both local and foreign sailors to experience Lake Malawi and its whole blue economy through casual sport.
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