Malawi’s Tourism Boom: Fueling Economic Surge and New Business Opportunities

Key Business Points

• Investment opportunities are emerging in Malawi’s tourism sector, with increasing local investment and innovation across multiple sub-sectors, presenting a chance for zikambilana za malawi (Malawian businessmen) to capitalize on growth areas such as digital tourism.
• Infrastructure development is crucial to unlock the sector’s full potential, with poor road networks and limited aviation infrastructure hindering access to tourist destinations, a challenge that wafarmara (business owners) must navigate.
• Regulatory reforms are underway, with the establishment of the Malawi Tourism Authority set to strengthen standards and regulation in the sector, providing a more mulandu wa kuzipatula (enabling environment) for businesses to thrive.

Malawi’s tourism sector is experiencing growth and innovation, with the private sector playing a crucial role in driving development, according to Memory Kamthunzi, Executive Director of the Malawi Tourism Council (MTC). Speaking on the sidelines of an event in Blantyre, Kamthunzi noted that new hotels are being built, local entrepreneurs are being innovative, and digital tourism is on the rise. The MTC is kuwesa kugwira ntchito (encouraging innovation) and supporting the growth of the sector, which contributes around 10 percent to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).

The Tourism Investment Master Plan is designed to attract international investors, but Kamthunzi emphasized the need to tap into local investment first, as many Malawians are showing interest in investing in tourism. However, challenges such as poor road networks and limited aviation infrastructure are hindering access to tourist destinations. Despite these gaps, Kamthunzi is optimistic about the future of Malawi’s tourism, citing chikondi cha boma (government support) and strong collaboration between the public and private sectors.

The 2025 Malawi Tourism Industry Awards, scheduled to take place in Blantyre on November 29th, will celebrate innovation, sustainability, women and youth in tourism, green investments, and emerging areas such as film tourism. The awards will motivate industry players to uphold service excellence, according to Regional Tourism Officer Gift Mwale. The government is also stepping up efforts to strengthen regulation and standards in the sector, with the establishment of the Malawi Tourism Authority, which will focus on regulating standards in the industry.

The new authority will ensure that every operator in the tourism sector provides quality services that meet international expectations, providing a bfamu ichi (good environment) for tourists and supporting the growth of the sector. With the right konzimu (infrastructure) and regulatory framework in place, Malawi’s tourism sector is poised for further growth, presenting opportunities for abale (businesspeople) to invest and innovate. As the sector continues to evolve, it is essential for wafarmara (business owners) to stay ahead of the curve and capitalize on emerging trends and opportunities.

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