Reuters AlertNet Lite - Zambia group to scale down Victoria Falls hotel plan

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Zambia group to scale down Victoria Falls hotel plan

10 Jan 2007 16:45:28 GMT
Source: Reuters

LUSAKA, Jan 10 (Reuters) - A hotel group will build a scaled down development near Zambia's Victoria Falls world heritage site after getting the go-ahead from officials, despite objections from environmentalists, its chairman said on Wednesday.

Legacy Holdings Zambia Ltd will build two five-star hotels in the national park but has dropped plans to construct a golf course and an additional 450 chalets, Jacob Sikazwe said.

The Environmental Council of Zambia rejected the bigger proposal last month but gave the green light to a redesigned $260-million, smaller-scale development on the fringes of one of Africa's longest rivers, the Zambezi.

Legacy is a subsidiary of Legacy International Group.

Environmentalists argue the project will damage wildlife and have threatened to ask the courts to block it.

The national park, which measures 66 square kilometres (25 sq miles) and is home to elephants, black rhinos and other animals, is popular with tourists due to its proximity to Victoria Falls, one of the biggest draws in southern Africa.

Officials say the project will create 2,000 jobs, attract an additional 150,000 tourists to the country of 11.5 million and put an extra $170 million per year in foreign exchange in Zambia's coffers.

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Last updated:Wed Jan 10 16:46:44 2007