Mozambique bets on conservation tourism to attract investment

The Government wants to transform conservation tourism into one of the main attractions for investment capital, leveraging the country’s rich biodiversity to differentiate Mozambique from other tourist destinations in the region and around the world. “We want to market the potential of conservation tourism. Beyond sun and sand, the country can offer tourists a unique experience built on our rich biodiversity,” he stated.

The official recalled that the inaugural edition of the Mozambique Tourism Summit, held in 2024 in the city of Vilankulo, Inhambane province, southern region, marked a new stage in setting priorities for the development of the sector. That gathering produced a set of recommendations and a monitoring matrix based on guidance issued by the President of the Republic, Daniel Chapo, aimed at accelerating reforms deemed essential to unlocking the nation’s tourism potential. “There are five key directives left by the Head of State at the last Summit, and we have created a monitoring matrix to track them, given their importance to driving tourism development,” he explained.

For Sumbana, the event must produce tangible results for the sector by connecting investors, tourism operators, and public decision-makers. “This event should not be a space for philosophical debate. It must be a venue for expressing business interest and securing investment for tourism,” he stressed.

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The former official emphasized that Mozambique possesses competitive advantages that are difficult to replicate in other markets, especially the ability to offer combined experiences linking high-quality beach tourism with natural reserves and wildlife. “Tourists can find sun and sand in many countries. But our conservation areas are unique. Only in Mozambique is it possible to simultaneously enjoy paradise beaches and world-class wildlife,” he noted.

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