Luanda - The Angolan Government is making “enormous efforts” to develop tourism, which helps to diversify State revenues and create direct and indirect jobs, a senior Moroccan official acknowledged on Monday.
Speaking to ANGOP, the director for Africa of the National Directorate of Tourism of Morocco, Admed Oumaarir, highlighted that the efforts of the Angolan authorities “are visible” in the construction of major infrastructures that will improve tourism in the country.
Admed Oumaarir was speaking as part of his participation in the seventh edition of the International Tourism Exchange (BITUR 2024), held from the 2nd to the 4th of May, in the city of Lubango, capital of the province of Huíla.
He cited as an example the new international airport in Luanda, António Agostinho Neto, recently opened in the southeast of the Angolan capital, with capacity to receive today's largest commercial planes.
The infrastructure will be one of the largest airports in Africa, capable of handling up to 15 million passengers and 50 thousand tons of various cargo annually over an area of 1,324 hectares.
With two double runways, it was designed to receive B747 and A380 aircraft, currently the largest commercial aircraft.
Admed Oumaarir was equally impressed by the development of the tourist area of Cabo Lebo, around 120 kilometers south of Luanda, which offers, according to him, good panoramic views, a relaxed atmosphere and the possibility of enjoying the sun and the sea.
He also praised the Angolan Government for organizing BITUR 2024, which, in his opinion, provided a forum for reflection and sharing of experiences between brotherly countries.
One of the objectives of the event was to present Angola's tourism potential and existing institutional initiatives in the sector at national level, as well as to exchange ideas and share experiences.
Admed Oumaarir admitted that the event effectively opened a debate with professionals and stakeholders in the sector, in order to obtain important recommendations for the development of tourism.
In his view, holding this event “is a strong sign” that the Angolan authorities are determined to promote the tourism sector.
On his first visit to Angola, he said it was difficult to speak exactly about the country's tourism potential, but he was impressed by the “human warmth” and the welcome of the Angolans.
“I also found that the country has many beautiful beaches, a diversity of landscapes, as well as a very rich flora and fauna”, he said.
Under the motto “Tourism as a key factor in the diversification of the Angolan economy”, the seventh edition of BITUR was attended by representatives from Angola, South Africa, Brazil, Cape Verde, Spain, Mozambique, Morocco, Portugal, Zambia and Zimbabwe. BS/IZ/DOJ
