Massangano: Father Ado Francisco has emphasized the urgent need for increased investment in the hotel sector of Massangano, a historic town in Cuanza Norte province, citing its significant tourism potential.
According to Angola Press News Agency, the missionary expressed concerns about the inadequate hotel and food services in the district, which are insufficient to accommodate tourists and Christians attending the pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Victories. This event has been ongoing since Friday. Father Francisco noted that Massangano, despite its rich historical heritage that attracts both domestic and international tourists, has only one restaurant and a guesthouse with limited capacity. He urged for strategic administrative measures to entice investors to the region, highlighting the potential benefits of the hotel and tourism industry on local development, job creation, and tax revenue.
Father Francisco pointed out that the current lack of services results in visitors leaving without contributing to the region's economic growth. He advocated for public policies aimed at rehabilitating Massangano's historical sites. The town was a provisional capital of Angola in the 16th century during the temporary occupation of Luanda by the Dutch. Improvement of the access road to the municipality was also deemed necessary, as it poses challenges to visitor flow, particularly during the rainy season.
Massangano is one of the newly established municipalities in Cuanza Norte, created under a new political-administrative division in the country. It boasts cultural heritage from the 16th century, including the Church of Our Lady of Victories, the tomb of Portuguese captain Paulo Dias de Novais, the slave market, and other historical sites. The area also features a fortress, the former city hall, and a prison, which served as headquarters for the Portuguese colonial administration, along with the Kwanza River corridor, historically used for slave transport to Europe and America.
