Speaking at the commemoration of 35 years of service by Satguru Travel Group in Lilongwe, Mkandawire said the Chakwera-led administration is committed to accelerating growth of tourism to ensure that Malawi remains one of the favourable tourism destinations in Eastern and Southern Africa.

The minister, who was representing Minister of Tourism Vera Kamtukule, also commended Satguru for the contribution it has made to Malawi’s tourism sector which he described as outstanding.

The ATM strategy is the government's new approach to get international support and private sector investment in the three avenues in a bid to make Malawi an inclusively wealthy and self-reliant nation as provided for in the Malawi 2063 development blueprint.

In his remarks, Branch Manager for Satguru in Malawi, Swapnil Karkhile hailed the ministry of tourism for its commitment to promoting and championing the growth tourism sector in the country .

“As a company, we commend the minister of tourism and the whole ministry for their active role in ensuring that the tourism sector is revived,” said Karkhile.

Karkhile also hailed the government for its recent decision to waive visa fees for different countries across the globe, saying it will help in promoting the tourism sector.

“As a player in the industry, we appreciate any initiative meant to provide a conducive environment for business in the tourism and travel sector. We visa waiver is such one crucial element,” he added.

At start of 2024, Malawi abolished the visa regime for citizens of 48 countries, including Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Brunei, Canada, China, Cyprus, Dominica, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, Solomon Islands, Ireland, USA, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Kiribati, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Nauru, Norway, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, United Kingdom, Russia, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu.

Satguru Travel group was established in 1989 in Kigali Rwanda, while in Malawi the organisation started its operations in 2011.

So far, the company has won over 15 world travel awards and Satguru Malawi led in the travel agency awards in both 2022 and 2023 respectively.