The province of Inhambane, widely recognised for its cultural wealth, beaches, and ecological diversity, is preparing to host in November its first International Tourism Conference. This unprecedented event aims to position the region as a benchmark in both the national and international tourism landscape, attracting strategic investment to transform tourism into the province’s main economic pillar.
The provincial government sees the conference as an essential platform to boost Inhambane’s image as a prime destination, promoting its vast potential to investors and sector operators. The ambition is to generate consistent revenue, create job opportunities, and foster more inclusive economic and social development.
Over the past five years, 197 projects linked to hospitality and tourism have been approved, representing a total estimated investment of 38.3 billion meticais (USD 600 million). Despite these significant figures, the government highlights that they still fall short of the province’s true potential.
Governor Francisco Pagula stated that the initiative was born out of the need to create a structured space for dialogue and engagement between national and international investors. “We had no choice but to find this meeting ground, and that is why we embraced this dream. The patron of the conference will be the President of the Republic, which shows the importance this event holds for the country. More than just a conference, this is a historic moment, in which we will show the world what Inhambane has to offer,” said the governor.
According to Pagula, several prominent entities in the international tourism sector have already confirmed their participation, including the South African group Singita and operators from Botswana. He also mentioned that the Vice President of Zimbabwe recently visited Inhambane and expressed interest in mobilizing his country’s business sector for the event, reinforcing the cross-border dimension of the conference.
The governor further highlighted the province’s potential, noting that Inhambane is the only one in the country with four conservation parks. To promote these resources, the government recently launched the magazine Invest in Inhambane, a publication dedicated to showcasing existing opportunities in conservation areas. Pagula also emphasized a unique fact: Inhambane is one of the few places in the world where it is possible, in a single day, to observe the five largest land animals and the five largest marine animals — a feature that could project the province as a world-class destination.
The focus on boosting tourism goes beyond the sector itself, extending to other areas of the economy. “We want tourism to be at the forefront of the province’s overall production, because only then can it create jobs and stimulate other industries, such as agriculture, processing, and even natural gas, which we have in the region. Tourism can and should be the catalyst for all these areas, because it is a cross-cutting, high-impact industry,” stressed Pagula.
One of the central pillars of the conference will be the debate on infrastructure, considered crucial for the competitiveness and sustainability of regional tourism. In this regard, the governor pointed out the rehabilitation and construction of access roads as a priority, highlighting the Mapinhane-Pafuri road project, which will connect beach, inland, and safari tourism, giving Inhambane a comparative advantage over other African destinations.
Although he refrained from disclosing further names of investors for organizational reasons, Francisco Pagula assured that confirmations have already been received from groups with the capacity to significantly transform the province’s economic landscape.
“We are talking about players who can completely change our reality. We will officially announce the list of participants soon, but the most important thing is that we already have guaranteed presences that will give weight and credibility to this conference,” he said.
The governor concluded by stressing the strategic nature of the event: “We must reflect on what still needs to be done for tourism to truly become the leading sector of our economy. The conference will also serve this purpose: to listen, debate, and, above all, attract commitments that deliver concrete results.”
The expectation is that the event will mark the beginning of a new stage in Inhambane’s development, consolidating the province as a world-class tourist destination and establishing tourism as a driver of economic, social, and cultural growth.
Credit: 360mozambique.com