The Mozambican government and the private sector are exploring strategies to make the downtown area of the Mozambican capital an international destination capable of competing with others in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region and the world, reported the local press.
The president for Tourism at the Confederation of Economic Associations of Mozambique (CTA), João das Neves, who spoke during a seminar on tourism, said it was necessary to create conditions for tourism to be efficient
“There is a need to create conditions of hygiene, health, safety, transportation, so that visitors can enjoy quality tourism and that this brings added value to the companies that are here, to the State, through taxes and Mozambique’s reputation as a tourist destination,” he said.
Every year Maputo receives some 40,000 tourists, most of them through cruises. Every time a cruise moors at the Port of Maputo, about 1,200 tourists visit the city.
Neves said that Maputo “does not offer suitable conditions for offering services to tourists,” so it is necessary to come up with a strategy to attract visitors.
Figures provided by National Tourism Director Maria Romero showed that Mozambique raised at least US$130 million in tourism revenues in 2017, higher than in 2016 when tourism accounted for US$106 million.
João Munguambe, a councilor for economic activities at the Maputo Municipal Council, also revealed that more than US$200 million would be invested in the city of Maputo to make the tourist attraction project in downtown Maputo feasible.
The investment is intended for the rehabilitation of public-private infrastructures.
Source: Macauhub
