The Confederation of Economic Associations of Mozambique (CTA) has called for support from partners of the Business Confederation of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CE-CPLP) to promote and develop tourism, as well as to train professionals for the sector.
“There will be coordinated work led by CTA and other Mozambican entities to understand how the country can prepare not only for business cooperation but also for the training of skilled labour, which will create opportunities for many young Mozambicans in the tourism sector,” said Salimo Abdula, CTA’s representative for Tourism.
The official was speaking to journalists in Maputo after a meeting with a CE-CPLP mission, which included representatives from the Portuguese Hospitality and Catering Association (AHRESP) and the Food and Economic Safety Authority (ASAE). He stressed that tourism plays an important role in influencing the country’s socio-economic performance.
“It is a sector that brings together everything we aim for, starting with job creation. It is in this area that CTA and CE-CPLP, through partners such as AHRESP and ASAE, intend to explore, learn, and cooperate. Mozambique is the first country to receive this mission, and we will certainly continue working with other CPLP member states towards this goal,” Abdula emphasized.
In turn, Berta Montalvão, Vice-President of CE-CPLP, explained that the mission aims to “support exchange and dialogue with CTA” in order to develop and train workers in tourism, including hospitality and catering.
“We know that what unites us is the Portuguese language, which serves as a bridge for our community. However, we must also develop and strengthen our companies to promote and grow the economies of our countries,” she noted, adding that further meetings with Mozambican tourism and hospitality associations and entities are planned in the coming days.
She highlighted that the meeting focused on issues such as infrastructure development, improving service quality, and human capital. “These are the three key areas of focus, and we must find a path of collaboration among all entities to successfully address these priorities,” she said.
Government data indicates that tourist arrivals in the country increased to 1.27 million in 2025, representing a growth of nearly 15% in one year.
According to the Minister of Economy, Basílio Muhate, Mozambique recorded 1.09 million tourists in 2024, an “indicator reflecting the consistent recovery and growing strength of the sector.” This growth occurred in a year still heavily impacted, between January and March, by post-election protests, which since October 2024 have resulted in more than 400 deaths and the destruction of businesses and public infrastructure.
The number of foreign tourists staying in hotels in Mozambique more than tripled over five years, reaching nearly 760,000 in 2024, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE).
According to the institution’s 2024 statistical yearbook, recently completed, the number of foreign guests in the country’s hotels rose from 216,297 in 2020 to 757,458 in 2024—a period that includes legal changes granting visa exemptions to tourists from 29 countries.
Inhambane province, in the south and considered the country’s main tourist destination, received a total of 170,292 foreign tourists in 2024. However, this activity was concentrated in the capital region, with 220,500 foreign guests in hotels in Maputo province, plus 179,587 in Maputo city. Meanwhile, the number of Mozambican guests in hotels fell by 18%, from 133,608 in 2020 to 109,786 in 2024.
Source: Diário Económico
