Mozambique govt wants to approve a tourism tax before year-end – Minister Dunduru

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

Mozambique govt wants to approve a tourism tax before year-end – Minister Dunduru

12:10 CAT | 29 Aug 2016

File photo

The government is to approve a tourism tax in Mozambique as a measure to stimulate investment and tourism in Mozambique, it was revealed by the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Silva Dunduro, in Beira, Sofala province, at the end of the ninth National Culture Festival yesterday.

According to Dunduro, cited by Radio Mozambique, the government has completed the review of a package pertaining to tourism developments, and will implement a guest house programme and other infrastructure to boost tourism in the country.

The country is currently implementing measures in the 2015/2024 Strategic Plan for Tourism Development aimed at increasing the competitiveness of the sector and taking advantage of potential.

Council of Ministers spokesman Mouzinho Saide recently said that actions to be developed within the framework of the strategic plan would enable the development of tourism as a key vector for rapid economic growth and job creation in Mozambique.

To this end, he said, the number of visitors must be increased, encouraging both the local hotel industry and the diversification of products to attract tourists.

The plan calls for improving the quality of services and staff training and the creation of conditions to stimulate investment in more varied forms of tourism, including cultural, beach and hunting tourism.

As a way of revitalising the sector, the government has approved the regulation of travel and tourism agencies and the regulatory framework of tourist information professionals that will produce a framework for the licensing and operation of travel agencies and tourism and tourist information activities.

On December 2015 the government had requested permission from parliment to legislate on the tourism tax. At the time, Cabinet spokesperson and deputy minister of Health Mouzinho Saíde, told the press that this tax would be levied upon the “total price of accommodation” (see video below).