The Joaquim Chissano Foundation advocated on Thursday (21), at the African Forum on Diplomacy and Tourism, the importance of positioning tourism as one of the central pillars of sustainable economic development in Africa, through active diplomacy and strategic investments that value communities and the continent’s natural resources.
Speaking as patron of the foundation that bears his name, former President Joaquim Chissano highlighted that the promotion of peace, national reconciliation, and African cultural identity are key elements in transforming tourism into a driving force for inclusive growth.
“African tourism should be seen not only as a source of revenue, but as an opportunity to promote peace, create jobs, drive investment, and strengthen the continent’s positive image in the world,” he said.
Based on recent data, Chissano underlined that tourism already represents around 6% of Africa’s economy, generating more than 170 billion dollars per year and creating over 24 million jobs. However, he argued that this figure “represents only a fraction of the sector’s real potential,” stressing the need to invest in human capital, infrastructure, environmental conservation, and responsible governance.
The former statesman pointed to emblematic examples of transformative diplomacy, such as the creation of cross-border peace parks — among them the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park and the Kavango-Zambezi (KAZA) Park — and the community co-management model of Gorongosa National Park, citing them as success stories that demonstrate tourism’s power to unite people and protect biodiversity. The Joaquim Chissano Foundation also proposes that African countries use diplomacy as a tool for regional and international cooperation to create integrated tourism packages, promoting segments such as conservation, religious, cultural, health, and adventure tourism, with special focus on local communities as the main beneficiaries of projects.
Chissano further stressed the need for structural reforms to make the business environment more competitive and transparent, in order to attract foreign direct investment and prevent the sector’s development from being captured by interests detached from the well-being of local populations.
“Sustainable tourism in Africa requires strong political leadership, lasting peace, multilateral cooperation and, above all, a real commitment to the well-being of Africans,” he concluded.
The African Forum on Diplomacy and Tourism took place between August 20 and 22, under the theme “Unlocking Africa’s Tourism Potential through Diplomacy and Investment.”
Over three days, the event brought together members of African governments, representatives of the African Union, the Southern African Development Community (SADC), international institutions, as well as public and private sector entities linked to tourism. The forum provided a space for qualified dialogue and allowed the definition of strategies to position tourism as a driver of sustainable economic development and regional integration in Africa.
Text: Felisberto Ruco
