President Lazarus Chakwera has said Protea Lilongwe Ryalls Hotel, currently under construction, will boost Malawi’s tourism industry.
Chakwera made the remarks when he toured the construction site at Lilongwe Golf Club (LGC) Wednesday.
He said apart from boosting the tourism industry, the modern facility would create jobs, generate wealth and serve as a milestone in transforming Malawi into a premier tourist destination.
“This is an elegant project and it is helping us to move together in partnership, being able to rally all the monies we can, create the jobs and the wealth we can and be sure, together, that we can make a tourist destination by providing the structures needed,” Chakwera said.
Chakwera, who was accompanied by First Lady Monica, Tourism Minister Vera Kamtukule and other government officials, said government would continue to provide support to all investors.
On his part, Blantyre Hotels plc (BHL) Chairperson Vizenge Kumwenda said the hotel was expected to be completed by December 2025 and that opening is scheduled for February next year.
He said the project, which started 18 months ago, was affected by the problem of forex shortage, which is being experienced in the country.
“We completed the first phase but stopped because we could not move to the second phase before assuring ourselves of forex and capital raising,” he said.
Kumwenda said the hotel would also create employment opportunities and provide markets for small and medium-scale enterprises.
BHL operates Protea Ryalls Hotel in Blantyre and has embarked on a project to expand its portfolio of hotels to Lilongwe.
Oasis Hospitality Limited, which will own the hotel, will lease the hotel building to BHL, who will operate the hotel.
Oasis is a partnership between BHL and institutional investors namely Icon Properties plc, Public Sector Pension Trust Fund, Limbe Leaf Pension Fund, Sucoma Pension Fund, Associated Pension Trust and the public.
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