The annual contribution of Vilanculos, one of Mozambique’s main tourist destinations, to the state coffers fell 83 percent in 2020 compared to the previous year due to the pandemic, an official source told Lusa.
According to the president of the Vilanculos Tourism Association, in Inhambane province, Yassin Amuji, revenue from this region to the state coffers fell from 120 million meticais (1.6 million euros) in 2019 to 20 million meticais (280,000 euros) in 2020.
“We suffered a lot when covid-19 broke out in March last year. Our hotels were closed for between five and six months, which impacted our revenues,” he explained to Lusa.
The restrictions imposed by the pandemic impacted almost all of the 154 tour operators in that tourist district 714 kilometres north of the Mozambican capital (Maputo), forcing them to reinvent themselves to maintain business and pay salaries.
“When in November we started to reopen with the reduction in covid-19 numbers, we started to bet on a more aggressive digital marketing strategy for nationals and we started to feel some flow, which is gradually increasing,” Yassin Amuji stressed.
According to the president of the Vilanculos Tourism Association, with the considerable reduction of new covid-19 infections, the ambition now is to relaunch the district, in a sustainable model that also gives benefits to the communities, which mostly depend on artisanal fishing.
“I have always maintained that we have to start looking more at captive fish production, this will save the time of fishermen, who now go to sea at 05:00 and come back at 17:00,” he stated.
While admitting that there are fears of the impact of a new wave of the pandemic in Mozambique, Yassin Amuji considers it fundamental to adopt alternative strategies to deal with covid-19.
“The pandemic is here to stay and we have to find new alternatives. We will have to work to retake our tourist flow and to retake our economy: we have to reach the 120 million meticals per year contribution to the Mozambican State”, stressed Yassin Amuji, adding that the projections for next year are positive, as the district is preparing to host the African beach football championship.
Vilanculos is one of Mozambique’s main tourist references with 182 kilometres of beach, 134 lagoons and almost intact forests.
