Mozambique: Foreign tourist revenue expected to hit $391.9 million by 2029

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Mozambique: Foreign tourist revenue expected to hit $391.9 million by 2029

3:19 CAT | 26 Mar 2025

FILE - For illustration purposes only. [File photo: Gorongosa National Park]

Mozambique’s revenue from foreign tourists exceeded €200 million in 2024, but the government expects to reach US$391.9 million in 2029, with the sector’s contribution increasing to 6% of GDP.

“Attracting major international events, positioning the country as an attractive destination for business and event tourism and other investments”, and “fostering tourism marketing mechanisms, with a strong focus on the digital component” are some of the priorities defined by the government for the sector in the Government’s Five-Year Programme (PQG) 2025-2029.

This is the first PQG of the executive led by President Daniel Chapo, who took office last January, and will be discussed during the first parliamentary session of this legislature, which starts today in Maputo.

The document states that the volume of revenue from international tourism in 2024 amounted to more than US$221.2 million (€203.9 million) and sets a target of US$391.9 million (€361.3 million) for 2029.

According to government forecasts, tourism’s contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to increase from 4.02% in 2024 to 6.0% in 2029, at the end of this PQG, with the number of workers in the sector increasing from 14,603 to 22,115 in the same period.

In 2021, the sector was worth 2.46% of GDP and two years later the number of arrivals to the country soared to over 870,000, with 87% coming from the African continent and 6% from Europe, mostly Portugal, an increase driven by the decision to grant visa waivers to tourists from 29 countries, as part of the government’s economic acceleration measures.

“Requalifying and restructuring” tourist destinations to promote investment opportunities in tourism and “encouraging public-private investment in infrastructures that boost tourism” are other priorities of the PQG.

Lusa reported last February that almost 210 ventures in the tourism sector had begun operating in Mozambique in 2024, despite the downturn in the sector due to the post-election tension that has been felt throughout the country since October.

According to budget execution data from January to December, in the tourism sector “208 businesses started operating”, of which 68 were accommodation establishments.

However, at the end of December, Mozambican businesspeople estimated losses in tourism at least 500 million meticais (€7.5 million), with cancellations of tourist reservations during the Christmas and New Year period due to post-election protests.

“It is estimated at approximately 500 million meticais (€7.5 million) because they are occurring in the middle of the peak tourism season in Mozambique, which is summer and the festive season,” Muhammad Abdullah, head of the Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism department at the Confederation of Economic Associations (CTA), told Lusa at the time.

The cause was the demonstrations and strikes in the country, which were taking place in a widespread manner since October 21st and had already caused more than 360 deaths, in addition to barricades, looting, destruction of businesses and public facilities, as well as violent clashes with the police.

Muhammad Abdullah said in December that the impact of the demonstrations and strikes on the tourism sector and repercussions on the country’s image abroad was being felt in all provinces of the country, highlighting the cancellation of reservations, especially in Maputo, where establishments have even closed.

“This is our biggest fear, the repercussions that these images that are being spread by the international media will create, damaging the image of our country’s tourism, these are the consequences for tourism and the economy in general,” Abdullah added, indicating that the CTA would invest in digital marketing to “recover the image” of the country.

Source: Lusa