Tourism in Mozambique and Guinea Bissau not affected by instability – DW

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Tourism in Mozambique and Guinea Bissau not affected by instability – DW

1:55 CAT | 09 Mar 2016

Mozambique tourism officials at the 28th Lisbon Tourism Expo (Bolsa de Turismo de Lisboa), say that conflict in the country will not affect tourism development plans, and that the Mozambique government’s main priority remains the development of sector infrastructure in order to attract investors.

Mozambique National Tourism Institute’s Nuno Fortes says there are already areas identified as priorities, one of which is Maputo city as a business tourism destination.

Fortes says: “You can find the best of everything in Mozambique – world-class hotels and conference facilities in Maputo; sun, sand and water sports at Vilankulo in Inhambane province; nature and conservation tourism in Gorongosa and Manica.”

According to Fortes, the Mozambican authorities are not ignoring the negative impact on tourism of tensions between the government and Renamo, “but I believe that the trouble is both localized in a very specific area and a passing thing too, because of all the national and international efforts that are being made to sort it out”.

The Tourism Institute official also maintains that “Mozambicans do not want a return to war. Even if someone wanted to push this scenario, he would get nowhere, because we are a people of peace.”

Guinea-Bissau: authorities with many plans

The political instability in Guinea-Bissau does not favour development, but neither does it prevent the government acting.

Minister of Tourism and Handicrafts, Malam Jaura, admits that “instability is inimical to investment attraction, but Guinea-Bissau is changing, is to modernize, despite this instability that has been affecting the country. The country has potential, bet modernize, creating an enabling environment for business and attraction of foreign investment. ”
And Jaura concludes highlighting strengths that can contribute to the tourism leverage in Guinea-Bissau: “It is a country that is very well placed in the sub-region [West Africa], gateway to over 200 million consumers, etc. . and is preparing also to be an ideal platform for public-private partnership. “

One of the strengths is the focus on ecotourism. “The country has a great ecological diversity,” said the Guinean minister, who on Wednesday (02:03.) Has signed an agreement with the Portuguese Government for vocational training and promotion in this area.

Cape Verde and Sao Tome and Principe also came to promote their respective capabilities. According to the Tourism and Hospitality Management Sao Tome, which brings the 7 wonders of the archipelago, has increased in recent times the number of German tourists in Ecuador Islands.

The three PALOP divide the international space, among others, Brazil, guest country of this edition, which is preparing to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games to be held in Rio de Janeiro, 5-21 August this year. Angola was not represented in this issue.

Tourism – artist in residence

Mozambican artist Mom, who has lived in Portugal for eight years, is exhibiting in the expo’s Mozambique pavilion for the third consecutive year, and always tries to brings a bit of Mozambican colour to his show.

This year, it’s capulana, the traditional patterned fabric which is used for clothing in parts of the country.

Mom is giving capulana new challenges. “Look, capulana already does a lot, from my parents’ bedspread to decorating our homes, but I’m making accessories like this keychain, slippers, clothes – even a line of capulana furniture covers.”

The Lisbon Tourism Expo is estimated to have had over 72,000 visitors on Sunday.

Source: DW Moçambique