The number of inbound tourists increased by 2.7 per cent in November, compared to the same month in 2005, resulting in a fall of 5.4 per cent for the first 11 months of the year.

Total tourist expenditure was down by 1.6 per cent, despite a 3.3 per cent increase in per capita expenditure.

November 2006

Tourist departures in November 2006 are estimated at 71,535, implying a year-on-year increase of 2.7 per cent. The increase primarily reflects a rise in the number of holiday makers mainly from the French, Italian and German markets, contrasted by a decline in numbers from the United Kingdom, Sweden and Norway.

January-November 2006

Departures of inbound tourists during the first eleven months of the year are estimated at 1,077,749 compared to 1,138,914 in the same period of 2005. This fall mainly reflected fewer tourists from the United Kingdom, Germany and France, while the number of tourists from Italy and Russia are estimated to have increased during the period.

The ongoing frontier survey of tourists departing by air indicates a 4.2 per cent reduction in total nights spent during the period January-November 2006. During the same period, total tourist expenditure is estimated at Lm408.3 million, 1.6 per cent less than over the same period last year.