Between the end of 2024 and the beginning of 2025, the Bazaruto Archipelago National Park suffered a revenue loss of 12 million meticais (190,000 USD), a direct result of post-election tensions that shook the country.
According to the newspaper O País, the wave of insecurity that followed the protests drove away a significant number of international tourists, compromising one of the main sources of funding for marine conservation and negatively impacting the income of local communities.
In response, park authorities have intensified dialogue with residents of the three inhabited islands, launched communication campaigns targeting visitors, and reinforced security measures to restore confidence in the destination. The goal is to re-establish Bazaruto’s prestige as one of Africa’s most sought-after tourist destinations.
In addition to the revenue drop, there were delays in delivering benefits to local populations, who depend on funds generated by sustainable tourism. “Just this Monday (26), an economic injection of 5 million meticais was distributed to the communities, representing part of the revenue collected in the past year,” the newspaper states.
It also notes that despite political unrest and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Inhambane Government emphasizes that over the past decade, more than 30 million meticais have been channeled into community projects in Bazaruto, highlighting the importance of combining environmental conservation with socioeconomic development.
Source: Diário Económico
