Inhambane: More than 150,000 tourists expected over the festive season

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Inhambane: More than 150,000 tourists expected over the festive season

10:22 CAT | 19 Dec 2017

Praia das Baleias Inhambane

The coast of Inhambane province, with more than five hundred tourist establishments, will again be the preference of Indian Ocean admirers over the festive season, with more than 150,000 domestic and foreign visitors expected in the last fortnight of the year.

The Deputy Provincial Director of Culture and Tourism, Hanifa Hassamo, said that bed occupancy in hotel establishments was at 90 percent last week, and was expected to be sold out over Christmas. Hassamo said that his institution, in coordination with the Hospitality and Tourism Association, was busy training staff to provide the quality of service that visitors expected.

The districts of Inhambane, Vilankulo, Inhassoro and Jangamo are the most sought-after destinations with demand firm and bookings at near 100 percent. To match demand, the tourism sector is launching initiatives aimed at raising the quality of service, and was recommending tourism destinations bet on the province ‘s signature gastronomy and culture.

Our reporter in Bazaruto indicates that the destination, one of the most sought after in the southern region of the country, has one hundred percent occupancy, with authorities in the Bazaruto Archipelago National Park expecting to raise about two million meticais from visitors’ fees over the tourist season.

With about 200 beds in its three resorts—’And Beyond’, ‘Anantara’ and ‘Azura’—these leisure facilities regularly host South African, British and American tourists.

Park Administrator Ricardina Matusse estimates more than 5,000 tourists will visit the archipelago and enjoy the various marine species exhibited in the Bazaruto museum and the landscape’s scenic beauty.

The tourist numbers will swell revenue growth over previous years, when visits fell off because of attacks by Renamo combatants. Twenty percent of park revenue goes to community social projects such as the construction of classrooms and expansion of the sanitary system, with the remainder channeled to the state.

The region’s statistics show domestic tourism growing, with Mozambicans getting a taste for beaches, museums and resorts, and full of praise once they too get a taste for the pleasures of tourism.

“Thirty percent of visitors are Mozambicans, a growing number thanks to the information and encouragement directed at Mozambicans to appreciate and delight in their own national riches,” Matusse explained.

With an area of 1,430 square kilometers, the National Bazaruto Archipelago Park has 5,045 inhabitants, whose main activity is fishing. Bazaruto is composed of five islands: Bazaruto, Benguêrua, Magarrúque, Bángue and Santa Carolina.

The region is currently battling the poaching of protected marine species such as dugong, shark and sea turtles, species considered of greater fauna value, with Deputy Minister of Land, Environment and Rural Development, Celmira da Silva, promising increased vigilance and protection resources on a recent visit.

Da Silva asked the population to participate in surveillance, particularly with regard to the dugong, a rare species threatened with extinction by fishing, pollution and incidents involving marine vessels. The dugong can eat up to 45 kilograms of algae per day, growing up to three meters and reaching half a ton in weight. Their life expectancy is 70 years.

Source: Notícias