Mozambique: CTA urges reopening of beaches – Watch

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Mozambique: CTA urges reopening of beaches – Watch

7:47 CAT | 01 Nov 2021

Photo: CTA on Facebook

The Confederation of Mozambican Business Associations (CTA) on Friday in Maputo urged the government to find mechanisms and solutions for the reopening of beaches, and thus boost the tourism industry seriously impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Addressing reporters at a press conference, the CTA chairperson for tourism, hotels and restaurants, Mohamed Abdullah, said there are a great many tourists who would like to pay a visit to the country to enjoy the beautiful beaches, but they cannot do so because the beaches have been closed.

The government decided to close down the beaches on 7 October, after they had been opened on 24 September. But the reckless behaviour demonstrated by many beach-goers, who were not observing basic precautions against Covid-19, such as social distancing and wearing masks led the government to close 21 of the most popular beaches again, to avert the risk of having these leisure sites becoming super-spreaders of the pandemic.

“The decision to keep beaches closed is affecting the tourism industry,” Adullah said. He added that CTA is ready and available to hold further consultation which might lead to the reopening of beaches, and thus re-launch the sector.

The CTA, Abdullah said, is proposing three possible solutions. First, allow the use of the beaches only on week days, thus eliminating the gathering of crowds at drunken beach parties at the weekends.

Second, allow the resorts located at the seaside to have the chance to use the beach. The move, he said, would be easy to control, rather than closing beaches completely. It would also enable tourist operators to recoup some of the financial losses they have recorded since 2020.

Thirdly, CTA suggested a long term solution consisting of the adoption of legislation for the use of beaches, and the introduction of signposting indicating bans on gatherings, and how beach goers should behave.

Most beaches, however, remain open – holiday makers can find an unspoiled beach if they are prepared to travel outside the main urban centres and away from the crowds.

Source: AIM / StrongLIve