MOZAMBIQUE: Tourism Is an Industry of Peace,President Nyusi

Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi on Friday described tourism as “an industry of peace”, and pledged continued government support for this sector of the economy.

Speaking at the inauguration of the “Diamond Mecufi Beach Resort”, in Mecufi district, in the northern province of Cabo Delgado, Nyusi said the government is committed to reforms that will simplify procedures in order to improve competitiveness.

“We want to make the business environment more attractive to investors in the tourist area”, declared the President.

Tourism, he said, brings together people from different cultures, and makes them more tolerant to social, cultural, ethnic or religious differences. “Tourism brings people and nations together and is a great vehicle of dialogue”, Nyusi stressed.

Tourism was “at the epicenter of a vast value chain”, he added. “Tourism is a real maker of jobs, and one of the ways for creating opportunities for generating income”.

Nyusi urged the managers of the new complex to purchase local goods and services - just as they had done in building the resort, when part of the construction material was provided by local communities. 450 workers were involved in the construction, 90 per cent of whom were from Cabo Delgado province.

Construction of the complex began in June 2013 and was completed two years later, covering an area of 27 hectares.

It is part of the Switzerland-based PlanHotel Hospitality Group. The resort, which is within easy reach of the provincial capital, Pemba has 40 deluxe rooms and 10 suites overlooking the Indian Ocean.