The government aims to position the country as a globally competitive tourism destination and raise the sector’s contribution to 6% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2029, as part of the Government’s Five-Year Program (PQG) led by President Daniel Chapo.
According to Lusa, this goal was reaffirmed on Friday (31st) by the Minister of Economy, Basílio Muhate, who views the upcoming First International Tourism Summit — scheduled for Monday in Vilankulo — as a strategic milestone in promoting the country as a premier destination.
“This is more than a government event. It is an event for Mozambique, for Mozambican investors, and for everyone who wants to project the country as a world-class tourism destination,” said Muhate, emphasizing the initiative’s role in attracting foreign direct investment, particularly in the hotel, transport, and related service sectors.
The two-day conference will host over 300 international guests and will be inaugurated by the Head of State, who will travel to Inhambane province, where Vilankulo is recognized as one of Mozambique’s main tourism hubs.
The minister also highlighted the immediate economic impact of the event, noting that the large presence of operators, entrepreneurs, and investors “generates revenue, stimulates the local economy, and creates jobs.” According to official data, revenues from international tourism exceeded 14.1 billion meticais (221.2 million dollars) in 2024, and the government projects this figure to reach around 25 billion meticais (391.9 million dollars) by 2029. Over the same period, the number of workers in the sector is expected to rise from the current 14,600 to more than 22,100.
The PQG 2025–29 also plans to boost digital marketing mechanisms and attract major international events as part of its strategy to position Mozambique as a destination for leisure, business, and conference tourism.
Government data show that in 2023, the country recorded over 870,000 tourist arrivals, 87% of which came from the African continent and 6% from Europe, particularly Portugal. This increase was partly driven by the visa exemption policy for citizens of 29 countries, under the current economic acceleration measures.
The government considers tourism a key sector for economic diversification, with a direct impact on social inclusion, income generation, and the enhancement of the nation’s natural and cultural resources.
Source: Diário Económico
