Lubango – The head of the Association of Tour Guides and Artistic Servers (AGTSA), Carlos Bumba, informed that, a total of 70,000 national and foreign tourists visited different tourist attractions in the southern province of Huíla, in 2024, observing a reduction of 10,000 compared to 2023.
Carlos Bumba, who was speaking, on Thursday, in Lubango City, highlighted that 70,000 is the annual average, but the number rose to 80,000 in 2023, due to the fact that the province welcomed, in August, the fair of Angolan Municipalities and Cities.
According to the source, August is the month that most people visit Huíla, given that within the framework of the “Nossa Senhora do Monte/Our lady of the Hill” religious festival it hosts several other events.
Carlos Bumba highlighted that in the aforementioned period, other months that stood out were April, due to the holding of the International Conference on Money Laundering, and May due to the influence of the International Tourism Exchange - BITUR-Lubango/2024.
He highlighted that inns and accommodation houses were the visitors' preferences and led the reception of tourists, followed by tourist villages and hotels that were in the options' 3rd position.
He regretted the fact that Huíla does not have camping and caravan parks, as many tourists come with the means for this type of practice, but do not know where to settle.
He went on to explain that the most visited places were Tundavala Crack, Cristo Rei Barracões and Serra da Leba viewpoint, due to attraction and proximity factors, with the bulk of visitors being national.
Of the bulk of visitors, those of Portuguese, Brazilian, French, Italian, American and Dutch nationality stand out, with Lubango, Humpata and Chibia being the main choice places.
According to the AGTSA head, tourists pointed out a lack in the restaurant sector, as after 10 pm it is not possible to have a meal, because restaurants close, which is why they suggested that hotels and similar units create conditions to reverse the situation.
Another concern relates to public lighting on tourist routes and destination.
The province of Huíla currently has 138 tour guides, of which 18 are working uninterruptedly.
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