Luanda - The general director of the Institute for Tourist Promotion (INFOTUR), Afonso Vita, highlighted the docking of the Norwagian Dawn ship in Luanda, today, with 2, 112 excursionists, mostly Americans.
Speaking to ANGOP, alongside the cruise ship docking, he indicated that the presence of excursionists implies the entry of money into the country.
“The excursionist's passage brings benefits to the country, the first being the ship's docking, because any ship that docks here has costs. Travel agents are taking excursionists out of the port, where they will buy our handicrafts, which are revenue for the country”, he said.
Afonso Vita explained that, during the excursionists' stay, the tourist sector is showing the living force of Angolan cultural heritage, with emphasis on the Crafts Fair, which highlights cultural identity.
The general director of the tourist company Travelgest, José Cabral, understands that the act represents the success of “having another ship and for the country to continue to score points in terms of promoting national tourism”.
He reflected that the tour involves a visit to several points, with emphasis on the Church of Nazaré, Palácio de Ferro, Igreja dos Remédios, Museum of Anthropology, Fortress and Mausoleum.
Tourist Maria Helena Alves says she lives in the United States and is the first time to visit Angola, despite being close to the country, as she is of Portuguese nationality.
“Americans don't know Angola, we Portuguese do, because we had a lot of people here. I hope to see the buildings and all the developments that Angola has achieved, which didn't exist before. I want to see Luanda Bay, the fortress and eat pastéis de natas”, she stressed.
Portuguese tourist Armando Alves, who has already been to Angola, expresses his joy upon returning, after leaving the country in 1969.
“Everything is different. I left many friends, but I will try to make new ones. I heard that life in Angola is very expensive. Angola is beautiful, wonderful”, he said.
The ship, coming from South Africa, passed through Namibia and, after Angola, headed to São Tomé, with a route heading north, destined for Barcelona (Spain).
Tourists are of different nationalities, mostly Americans, followed by Chinese, English and Australians. HM/AC/CF/DOJ
