Mozambique’s tourism industry created 13 million direct jobs and generated $33 million (2.1 billion meticais) for the State treasury between 2019 and 2023, according to data released on Monday, November 3, in Vilankulo, a coastal city in the Inhambane province. The information was presented during the First International Tourism Conference and Fair, which runs until Tuesday and brings together national and international tourism sector stakeholders.
Between 2019 and 2023, the country’s tourism sector also recorded investments exceeding $1.1 million (69.5 million meticais), highlighting its growing importance in the national economy and its potential for expansion.
The Vice-President of the Confederation of Economic Associations of Mozambique (CTA), Francisco Mboene, emphasized the importance of continuing to invest in tourism. “These numbers show that tourism is much more than leisure. It is a lever for economic development, social inclusion, and the creation of decent jobs,” he highlighted.
He added that the sector requires “an entrepreneurial vision, innovation, and solid public-private cooperation.” According to Mboene, “partnerships between the State and the private sector are fundamental to transforming Mozambican tourism,” reinforcing the need for collaboration among all industry stakeholders.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Economy, Basílio Muhate, who presided over the official opening of the conference, stated that the government considers tourism a strategic sector for the country’s socio-economic development. “During these two days, we have the opportunity to reflect on our commitment to promoting tourism, a renewable resource that can contribute to diversifying our economy,” he declared.
The minister also highlighted Mozambique’s uniqueness as a tourist destination. “Our country is one of the few in the world that offers, within the same territorial line, the ‘Big Five’ of the savannah and the ‘Big Five’ of the sea,” he explained. The savannah’s ‘Big Five’ refer to the five most iconic and difficult-to-spot animals in the African savannah—elephant, lion, buffalo, leopard, and rhinoceros—while the sea’s ‘Big Five’ include marine species of high tourist and ecological value, such as sharks, turtles, pelagic fish, dolphins, and dugongs.
Basílio Muhate also called on entrepreneurs attending the conference to invest in the opportunities Mozambique offers in the tourism sector, highlighting the importance of developing innovative products and sustainable experiences that capitalize on the country’s unique potential.
Source: Rádio Moçambique (RM)
