Malawi - Promoting Investment and Competitiveness in Tourism Sector Project (PICTS)

The Promoting Investment and Competitiveness in the Tourism Sector Project (PICTS) was initiated by the Government of Malawi (GoM) because of its need to diversify its sources of growth and exports. The project is aimed at increasing efficiency and effectiveness of institutions in the tourism sector by strengthening management capacity to generate revenue and create employment. The project implementation is expected to strengthen governance in the management of the tourism sector in Malawi through institutional strengthening. This will include developing a tourism investment master plan to guide tourism planning; building tourism statistical capacity; providing skills on park management, and equipping parks with modern IT for monitoring and combating poaching; educating communities on conservation around touristic sites; strengthening public-private dialogue; and building capacity of SMEs in the sector. The project will contribute towards addressing challenges affecting the country’s performance in attracting investment and tourists into the country. Competitiveness of the sector shall be enhanced through the country’s ability to invest in touristic infrastructures and services, and in attracting as well as satisfying the needs of tourists through well developed products and improved service delivery. The total estimated cost of the project is UA 7.742 Million (including a 10% GoM contribution). The project has three mutually reinforcing components: (i) strengthening institutional capacity for investment competitiveness in the tourism sector; (ii) promote investment and enterprise development in the tourism sector; and (iii) project management.