The Ministry of Economy officially launched this Friday, February 20, in Vilankulo, Inhambane Province, southern Mozambique, the 2nd edition of the Mozambique Tourism Summit, one of the main forums dedicated to reflection and promotion of the tourism sector.
The ceremony was led by the Minister of Economy, Basílio Muhate, and brought together Government members, private sector representatives, development partners, tourism operators, investors, and other stakeholders across the entire tourism value chain.
According to a statement, the Mozambique Tourism Summit provides a strategic platform for dialogue between the public and private sectors, with the objective of boosting sustainable tourism development, promoting investment opportunities, and strengthening the country’s positioning as a competitive destination at regional and international levels.
The document added that this 2nd edition seeks to consolidate previous achievements, focusing on debates around innovation, sustainability, financing, tourism promotion, and regional integration.
Last year, the Government announced plans to introduce a tourism tax, to be paid through accommodation, to promote investment in the sector and double the flow of foreign tourists. The information is contained in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (PRECE), approved on September 16 by the Council of Ministers. Without specifying concrete amounts, the document states that revenues from the tourism tax will serve to “increase marketing of the Mozambican tourism product, enabling Mozambique to be elevated as a tourist destination.”
“The data show that the investment made for this activity, through the State Budget, estimated at $350,000 annually, is very little, particularly when compared with the main destinations in the region,” the document reads, noting that South Africa invests $60 million.
According to PRECE, “the objective will be to double the flow of foreign tourists, which will represent an opportunity for the entire economy and an increase in the direct contribution of tourism to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from the current 1.1% to 5%.”
It will also “enable investment in improving tourism services, through training and the creation of standards, as well as facilitating financing for Mozambican tourism operators, and improving strategic infrastructure for tourism and diversification of the tourism product.”
Source: Diário Económico
