The tension and violent demonstrations that followed the elections in Mozambique led to the cancellation of 412 hotel reservations for the festive season in the city of Beira and in some districts of Sofala province. The information was provided by the provincial director of Culture and Tourism, Florença Manuel, who links the cancellations directly to the riots, especially in the city and province of Maputo, according to the newspaper Noticias.
Despite the significant losses in the sector, Florença Manuel was optimistic, as she still expects to receive 6175 guests, 4807 of whom are nationals, for whom 2799 rooms and 3712 beds are available. In some establishments, bookings are already sold out.
‘We’re confident that we can reach or even exceed this figure. However, it is undeniable that the cancellations reflect the impact of the violent demonstrations affecting the country,’ she said during an event to welcome tourists at Beira International Airport.
Given the expected decrease in the flow of foreign tourists, the sector’s strategy has been to focus on domestic tourism. ‘Hotel owners have already started to adopt this approach, by reducing prices and promoting affordable packages. We’re also encouraging local cuisine to be emphasised on menus,’ she explained.
On the other hand, Florença Manuel emphasised that Sofala province has had no episodes of post-election violence, which makes it a safe option for visitors.
From January to November this year, the province received 72,589 guests, of which 57,474 were nationals, showing the growing importance of domestic tourism. The number is significantly higher than that recorded in the same period last year, when 46,690 tourists visited the region.
Rachel Martin, a South African tourist who recently arrived in Beira, expressed her enthusiasm for the visit. ‘It’s my first time here, and I’m looking forward to exploring the beauties of the city, which have been highly recommended to me,’ she said.
Despite the adverse scenario, the authorities and tourism operators in Sofala expect to close the year with positive results, adapting to the challenges posed by the political and social situation.
