Luanda: Authorities in Angola's northern Zaire province have urged private investors to finance hotel and hospitality projects in Mbanza Kongo to address a severe shortage of tourist accommodation in the historic UNESCO World Heritage site.
According to Angola Press News Agency, speaking at a gala marking the ninth anniversary of the city's UNESCO designation, Zaire Vice-Governor Afonso Nzolameso said the municipality lacks the infrastructure required to support growing visitor numbers. Nzolameso highlighted the necessity of developing hotel infrastructure to accommodate tourists interested in the region's historical and cultural past.
The local government has offered to streamline administrative and licensing procedures for private firms looking to build in the area. Nzolameso emphasized that the responsibility to build accommodation rests with the private sector rather than the government, addressing common perceptions about the lack of hotels in Mbanza Kongo.
Currently, Mbanza Kongo is equipped with four hotels, seven guesthouses, and eight hostels, providing a total of 354 rooms. The city was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in July 2017 in recognition of its role as the former political and spiritual capital of the Kingdom of Kongo.
