Luanda: Angola's Economic Commission of the Council of Ministers approved on Thursday a Presidential Decree containing measures aimed at stimulating private investment in the tourism sector and increasing the number of visitors to the country.
According to Angola Press News Agency, the decree was approved during the 3rd ordinary meeting of the Economic Commission, chaired by President Joo Louren§o. The initiative seeks to promote sustainable, competitive, and cross-sector tourism development while supporting biodiversity conservation, increasing local employment, and improving the well-being of communities involved in tourism activities.
Tourism Minister M¡rcio Daniel highlighted that the decree reflects Angola's current stage of development in the hospitality market. The country has transitioned from being a lesser-known destination to an emerging tourism hotspot. Efforts to promote Angola through brands such as 'Visit Angola, The Rhythm of Life' and 'Meeting Angola, The Meeting Room in Africa' have secured visibility at major international tourism events and achieved significant media reach, establishing Angola among emerging tourism markets.
The minister also emphasized the consolidation of public investment projects in key tourism areas, including infrastructure development in Cabo Ledo in Icolo e Bengo Province, Baa das Pipas, Baa dos Trªs Irmos, Baa do T´mbwa in Namibe Province, and Baa do Quicombo in Cuanza-Sul Province. These projects represent an estimated investment of around 700 million US dollars.
As part of the strategy to stimulate tourism growth, M¡rcio Daniel mentioned the recent approval of public investment for the Okavango Tourism Development Hub. He stated that the government is encouraging private investors to join public-private partnerships to help develop the hospitality industry.
The minister noted that while Angola has strengthened its promotion as a tourist destination, the focus must now be on attracting private investment into tourism areas. The strategy for attracting private capital prioritizes several segments, including business tourism through Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE), coastal tourism supported by Angola's 1,600-kilometer coastline, and nature tourism based on the country's extensive environmental conservation areas.
Daniel shared that recent efforts are yielding results, citing an entity linked to the United Arab Emirates announcing an investment in Cabo Ledo to develop hotels and resorts in that region.
In addition to approving the Presidential Decree aimed at promoting private investment in tourism and increasing visitor numbers, the Economic Commission of the Council of Ministers also reviewed a proposal for a Presidential Decree to include maize on the list of widely consumed products subject to import regulation, aiming to encourage and prioritize domestic production.
