Luanda: A Memorandum of Understanding to facilitate payments in the Angolan tourism sector was initialed between the Ministry of Tourism and Visa, as part of the implementation strategy of the 'Visit Angola - The Rhythm of Life' brand. According to Angola Press News Agency, the partnership aims to promote the acceptance of payments with Visa cards in physical and digital channels of hotels, restaurants, travel agencies, and other tour operators, as well as online platforms and other services associated with the tourism value chain. The Secretary of State for Tourism, Augusto Kalikemala, highlighted that the memorandum meets a concrete need in the sector. He mentioned that the partnership with Visa represents another step in the Ministry of Tourism's strategy to make Angolan tourism easier to consume, more modern in operation, and more aligned with international standards of convenience and security. "We want to facilitate payments, train operators and create better conditions for the development of the inte rnal market," he stated. In turn, Katia Conceiço, Visa Country Manager for Angola, Mozambique, and Saint Helena, reaffirmed the company's commitment to the development of tourism in Angola. "At Visa, we recognize tourism as an important engine of economic and social growth. It is an honor to collaborate with the Ministry of Tourism on this initiative, making our global experience, innovative solutions, and tools available to the sector that contribute to improving the visitor experience and supporting the growth of local businesses," she emphasized. As part of the cooperation, the Ministry of Tourism and Visa will work with financial institutions, acquirers, and payment service providers to support the expansion of digital payments in tourism, reduce dependence on cash, and improve the consumer experience. The cooperation also includes training actions for tour operators, focusing on the use of digital solutions, acceptance of electronic payments, financial education, transaction security, and improving rev enue management. The parties will also evaluate the integration of financial and payment resources on the digital platform 'Visit Angola - The Rhythm of Life', reinforcing the promotion, booking, and marketing channels of the Angola destination in the national and international markets. The document reinforces that, with this Memorandum, the Ministry of Tourism reinforces its strategy of articulation with the financial system and global technological partners, aiming to create a more modern, inclusive, and competitive tourist ecosystem.
