Tension affects tourism in Mozambique

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Tension affects tourism in Mozambique

2:50 CAT | 28 Jun 2016

AFP / VOA (File photo) / A beach resort in Mozambique

Mozambican tourism operators are complaining of a decline in the number of tourist visiting Mozambique because of political and military tension, and say that some tourist venues have actually closed.

“Let us solve the basic issues, particularly as we’re a tourist destination. Companies are already suffocating. In the hotel sector, we are laying off workers. At the Hotel Rovuma we let 60 workers go, we closed the Inhaca and Bazaruto units and compensated all the workers, and we are currently working on a different operating concept,” tourism operator Vasco Manhiça reports.

Simultaneously, travel agencies say they are facing difficulties paying foreign companies they operate with for air tickets because of limitations imposed by the Bank of Mozambique on the use of credit cards and the lack of foreign exchange in the country.

Noor Momade, president of the Association of Travel Agencies, has a list of grievances.

“The limits recently imposed for the use of credit cards, even corporate credit cards, the significant increase in competition in a market that has not grown substantially and in particular from foreign agencies importing unhelpful practices into the market, the frequent and recurrent delays in payment for airline tickets sold to the state are just some of the concerns that regularly deprive us of sleep at night.”

Minister of Tourism Dunduro Silva said the government was sensitive to the sector’s problems was working to restore peace.

“At a moment in time when tourist numbers are declining due to a factor that we all acknowledge, namely the problem of peace, the government is doing everything in its power to resolve the matter as urgently as possible, because tourism is indeed one of our most sensitive areas,” the minister said.

The tourism sector in Mozambique has generated over 25,000 jobs in the last 20 years, but its growth has slowed in recent years due to a combination of factors.

Source: Voa Portugues