Huambo - The coordinator of the delegation of foreign tourists visiting Angola, the South African Nicolas Southens, on Wednesday praised the contribution of peace and national reconciliation to development and promotion of tourism countrywide.
Speaking to the press at the end of a two-day visit that 26 foreign tourists from Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, made to Lobito City, centre-west (coastal) Benguela Province and the central region of the country, Southens said the group has seen numerous advances achieved by Angolans after the war that lasted almost 30 years.
He added that before arriving in Angola, specifically in the provinces of Moxico, Bié and Huambo, the tourist delegation had a very different opinion of Angola, given the information they had regarding the consequences of the armed conflict in the country.
The tourist tour coordinator said he has witnessed significant progress and serious commitment from the Angolan government to rebuild the country to erase the negative images left by the war and secure socio-economic stability.
Southens stressed that in addition to social development, the peaceful environment has raised the interest of foreign tourists in visiting Angola to learn a little more about its history, habits and customs of the people.
He said he hopes the August general elections take place in a peaceful and harmonious environment, as it is a very important factor for the strengthening of African democracy.
The head of the local department of Tourism, Anilson Ernesto, on his turn, said the visit of the foreign tourists in the country, the second one after 2019, is a result of the peace and calm atmosphere the country has been experiencing for the last 20 years.
Ernesto declared that the presence of the foreign tourists, aboard the luxury train of the South African operator "Rovos Rail", represents a challenge for the Angolan government to invest in the tourism sector.
He said that despite the short time that the visit lasted, it was possible to show some tourist potential of the province, which has 158 sites, with highlight on the Moco Hill, one of the Seven Wonders of Angola, the hot and cold waters located at Alto-Hamas village, among many others.
Ernesto said from January to June this year the province registered 1,355 visits from national and international tourists.
Before visiting Huambo City, the group of tourists of several nationalities, including South Africans, Italians, British, Danish, Swiss and Russians, crossed the Angolan provinces of Moxico and Bié.
Huambo Province (centre) receives the second delegation of foreign tourists on July 26, which will also cross the Angolan provinces of Bié and Moxico, heading to Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.
