Tourism leaders from Angola, Mozambique, and Egypt called for deeper cooperation and targeted investment in Africa’s tourism sector during a panel at the Global Tourism Forum. The session, titled “Africa Ascending: Tourism for Infrastructure, Youth Employment, and Investment Attraction,” featured Angola’s Minister of Tourism, Márcio de Jesus Lopes, Egypt’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sherif Fathy, and Mozambique’s Secretary of State for Tourism, Fredson Bacar.
Euronews reported that panel moderator Abulfas Garayev, Azerbaijan’s former Minister of Culture and Tourism, highlighted Africa’s rising tourism momentum. The continent welcomed 74 million tourists in 2024, up 7% from pre-pandemic levels and 12% from 2023. Projections indicate that arrivals will reach 82 million by 2025, marking the strongest tourism recovery worldwide. Speakers called for more substantial regulatory alignment and open-skies agreements. They also discussed visa-free travel across African nations, reflecting a model similar to the Schengen Agreement.
Angola Calls For Cooperation And Infrastructure Growth
Angola’s Minister Márcio de Jesus Lopes urged African countries to prioritize collaboration over competition. “Africa must move beyond the logic of competition and embrace cooperation between nations, based on regional success stories,” he said. He added that nations should “learn from each other and form a strong bloc that positions Africa as a leading global destination.”
Jesus Lopes emphasized infrastructure development as key to tourism growth. He pointed to Angola’s investments in airports, seaports, electrification, and road networks. He referenced major national projects, including the new Dr. António Agostinho Neto International Airport, a convention center under construction in Luanda, and the Lobito Corridor, which links Angola to mining regions in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia.
Mozambique And Egypt Highlight Sustainability And Strategic Expansion
Mozambique’s Secretary of State for Tourism, Fredson Bacar, underscored sustainability as the foundation of the country’s tourism strategy. Mozambique recently earned recognition as the world’s Best Sustainable Tourism Destination at the 2025 World Tourism Awards in Brussels. Bacar stressed that responsible use of natural resources supports job creation, investment, and community benefits.
He noted Mozambique’s scale and geography challenges. “It’s impossible to create infrastructure and develop the whole country at the same time. We have 2,700 kilometres of coastline, and 25 percent of the territory is in nature conservation areas,” he said. Bacar highlighted partnerships with private companies to employ young Mozambicans, who make up a large portion of the population.
In addition, Egypt’s Minister of Investment, Sherif Fathy, described the country’s significant infrastructure investment as central to its tourism surge. The government developed airports, railways, roads, and transport links connecting major destinations. Fathy cited the north coast, which saw a “500 percent increase in air traffic this summer,” supported by three expanding airports.
Furthermore, Fathy outlined Egypt’s broad tourism offering, from heritage and culture to coastal and eco-tourism. He said Egypt aims to become “the world’s leading tourist destination in the coming years, given its unrivalled variety of experiences.” He also pointed to the rising use of AI to analyze traveler behavior and tailor tourism services, combining modern innovation with Egypt’s cultural legacy.
